Tropical storms hit North, Northeast

BANGKOK, March 4 (TNA) - Tropical storms devastated several northern and northeastern provinces Saturday while haze pollution in the North continued without any sign of an end. Severe tropical storm in Nong Khai province bordering Laos destroyed several houses and uprooted trees. It had also impacted two fairs, including the provincial Red Cross fair, as the platforms and shops were damaged. In Phrom Phiram district of the northern province of Phitsanulok, the tropical storm had damaged houses and farmland. Several lamp posts along Phitsanulok – Phrom Phiram Road were damaged, forcing villagers to live without electricity. Meanwhile, haze problems continued in the North with slight improvement in some areas. In Mae Sai district bordering Myanmar, dust particles remained high at critical level, measuring at 356.5 microgrammes per cubic metre, exceeding the safety standard by 236.5 microgrammes per cubic metre. The dust particles were considered the highest in the North for the sixth consecutive days and there was no sign of improvement due to bushfires spreading from a neighbouring country and cool weather as the temperature dropped to about 12 degrees Celsius. Haze problem in the northern capital of Chiang Mai improved slightly after westerly wind helped blew it away. Haze pollution level was measured at 95 microgrammes per cubic metre early Sunday while visibility was as far as one kilometer. However, people still wore masks for their safety. Officials said villagers continued to burn dried grass and leaves despite repeated official warnings. They argued that they had to burn them due to absence to garbage collectors. In nearby Lamphun province, people and monks continued to suffer from haze crux. Monks who have to perform their duties outside monastery were forced to wear masks all the time. Provincial officials sprayed water on roads in a bid to lower dust particles which rose to 127 microgrammes per cubic metre, exceeding the safety standard for the fifth consecutive days. (TNA)