Chiang Mai: The air hanging over Thailand’s far north has become so polluted, the prime minister went on Tuesday to see in person what is being called a severe health crisis.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha arrived by helicopter at an army base in Chiang Mai, a tourist destination where seasonal haze was unusually bad and prolonged this year.
The thick grey smoky air has largely hidden the forested mountains that surround the city, and many schools have closed. Pollution levels have soared into the hazardous zone and remained there for many weeks, putting the city at the top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities on many days, although readings often fluctuate by time of day. Much of the current pollution has been caused by the burning of forest undergrowth by villagers to make it easier to gather mushrooms and other products for sale. The burning often occurs at night, lighting the sky but making it hard to catch the perpetrators.
The city is vulnerable as mountains that surround it trap the pollution. The problem has been worse this year because of a drier-than-usual dry season. In weeks, farmers are expected to start burning corn fields to clear them for planting, prolonging the pollution.
