Good Air in Bangkok, Haze Elsewhere Due to Burning

BANGKOK, Feb 12 (TNA) - Officials reported good air in Bangkok but smoke haze due to forest fires in other provinces in the North and the Northeast. The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation operated four rainmaking flights above Khon Kaen and Loei provinces in the Northeast. The operations reduced the level of fine dust to 74 micrograms per cubic meter of air in Khon Kaen in the past 24 hours. The safe threshold was set at 50mcg. In Loei province, forest fires on the Phu Sanao mountain continued for three days. A storm made attempts of about 100 soldiers to put out the blaze unsuccessful. The level of particulate matter with 2.5 microns and less in diameter (PM2.5) was at 49mcg. In Phayao province, fine dust measured at 81mcg. In Nan province, the level was at 61mcg as wildfire was covering 32 rai of the Nanthaburi National Park and the Huai Sai Daeng forest reserve. Officials blamed the blaze on people setting fire to collect forest products. In Chiang Mai province, the PM2.5 level was at 77mcg in Suthep sub-district of Muang Chiang Mai district. The Chiang Mai governor announced a ban on field burning that would take effect on March 1. In Bangkok, the levels of PM2.5 ranged from 15 to 40mcg and officials reported its air quality was at good and very good levels. (TNA)