Yala at risk of haze being over safety level

YALA, September 2 (TNA) -- The sky in Thailand's southernmost provinces of Yala province remained clouded with haze from neighbouring Indonesia, with the provincial public health office worrying that without rainfalls for the 2-3 days the air quality in the area could surpass the safety standard level. Haze from forest fires, started in late August in Indonesia, is still covering most of Yala province this morning, where the haze has become even thicker as the province did not see any rainfall since yesterday. The air quality monitoring station in Yala has reported that the level of PM10 or small particulate matter measured at 7 am, local time, stood at 80 microgramme per cubic metre, and has the tendency to increase. The station fears that the level could surpass the safety standard level of 120 microgrammes per cubic metre if such condition continued. A senior public health academician expert at the Yala Public Health Office and President of Thailand Environmental Sanitation Club, Wichien Songaksorn warned the public of the situation, stressing all should better take care of themselves during this period, particularly those with chronic diseases. He said inspections have revealed that the haze started from Indonesia's Sumatra Island could become denser without if the province saw no precipitation in the next couple of days, noting that the local public health office is closely monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, Deputy District Chief of Trat's provincial seat Pairat Soisaeng has led a team of authorities to inspect damages from the recent flood again earlier today, in order to provide assistance to local victims which have been affected by heavy downpours in the last two days. The continuous downpours have caused flash floods in many areas, including the provincial seat, Bo Rai, and Khao Saming districts, where over 24 acres of shrimp farm, 20 acres of fish ponds, and 40 acres of rice farms have been submerged under 1-metre deep water. The floods also blocked the roads leading into many villages of Huay Raeng subdistrict in the provincial seat, making commute impossible. Head of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office in Trat, Titatnan Udomsuk has ordered authorities to closely monitor risk areas, so as to be able to provide immediate assistance when needed, as rainfalls continue to pelt the province and could cause more flash floods. (TNA)