Chiang Mai tops world’s most polluted cities due to rampant forest fires

[webfact]

Chiang Mai, a province in northern Thailand, has been blanketed by worsening haze, catapulting it to the top of the list of the world’s ten most polluted cities. The thick smog is a direct consequence of forest fires that have been burning unabated for approximately two weeks.

 

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) detected a total of 1,420 hotspots on Monday alone. Of these, 193 were located in Chiang Mai. Satellite information revealed that the hotspots were distributed across various areas, with 490 in forest conservation zones, 375 in forest reserve areas, 237 in agricultural regions, 186 in land reform areas, and the remaining in community areas.

 

Hotspots were not exclusive to Thailand. Cambodia was identified as having 2,489 hotspots, followed closely by Myanmar with 2,279, Laos with 1,210, and Vietnam with 365.

 

The forest fires in Chiang Mai have shown no signs of abating, with fires currently blazing in Ob Luang National Park, Ob Tho, Mae Chaem, Ob Khan, and Doi Suthep-Pui. The wind has carried the dust and smoke into urban areas, exacerbating the haze situation.

Kritsayam Khongsatree, the director of the 16th Conservation Management Office, stated that resources are being mobilised to combat a forest fire in Ob Luang, located in the Hot district. He issued a stern warning of legal action against individuals implicated in forest burning as five new hotspots have been detected. The fires have continued to rage in the province for over two weeks.

 

To quell the flames, over 220 officials were deployed on Monday night to battle the fire at Doi Pha Dam in Ob Luang National Park. The fire, which started on February 22, has already caused damage to about 220 rai of land.

 

Challenges in Fire Suppression

 

Touching on the issue of forest fires, Chiang Mai’s Deputy Governor, Tosapon Puanudom, stated that most fires are created by humans. He stressed that attempts to extinguish them have been hampered by budget limitations and regulations. The responsibility of combating forest fires has been transferred to local administrative bodies. However, a lack of funds and rain has made the task more daunting.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urged the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry on Tuesday to form a team to collaborate with Cambodia in mitigating cross-border haze. He mentioned that the Foreign Affairs Ministry has already informed the Cambodian government about the hotspots in its country and dispatched a team to discuss the establishment of a joint team.

 

The situation remains grim as seven northern provinces recorded extremely unsafe levels of PM2.5 pollutants yesterday morning. The levels ranged from 92.7µg/m³ to 75.7µg/m³, causing further concern for the inhabitants of these regions.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo taken from Chiang Mai Local Tour

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-28

 

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[ChrisY1]

A decent fire service with modern equipment....not wet sacks,  and proper training for it's employees would be a start!

Maybe a chopper or 2 for water bombing....of course, when they are not transporting the generals to golf courses!

[novacova]

Obviously whoever wrote this article either isn’t here or hasn’t looked outside to take note of the moderate smoke/haze conditions or just a presumptuous notion based on fire activity in the news. Certainly not in the top worst. 
*…it seems what is allowed here is hysterics sensationalism misdisuninformation as usual. 

[Tarteso]

Very good warning for all potential tourists around the world, who wish to visit CM… Somebody needs to learn a good Lesson.

[Yorkshire Tea]

Air is pretty crap today.

[mfd101]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Chiang Mai’s Deputy Governor, Tosapon Puanudom, stated that most fires are created by humans.

And on that front he's doing what exactly?

[33 RPM]

I doubt they would be able to put out a fire in a waste paper basket, too much red tape...

[hotchilli]

28 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

And on that front he's doing what exactly?

Having lunch around this time followed by a nap.

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Chiang Mai tops world’s most polluted cities

Another hub, no aiming required.

[PETERTHEEATER]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

He stressed that attempts to extinguish them have been hampered by budget limitations and regulations

What are the regulations which hamper the fighting of these fires?

[cardinalblue]

Are people not allowed to burn? I see it all around our rice land whether fields or in their villages at home burning garbage...

 

I didn't they know they had regulations...Why doesn't the gov post how many people fined and how much they have collected in fines?

 

The system is a joke...no intention of stop the steal I mean stop the burning...The gov tolerates the burning and then acts like they are trying to stop and can't with pre-determined built in excuses 

[Northstar1]

Great retirement destination 😉🙅🏼‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤦😂

[arithai12]

11 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Very good warning for all potential tourists around the world, who wish to visit CM… Somebody needs to learn a good Lesson.

Yes, the so-called journalist who wrote that piece and sensational headline without a shred of support by numbers. While not good at all today, the air quality in CM is certainly nowhere at the top in the world, and in fact still quite acceptable unless you have conditions.

[arithai12]

10 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Having lunch around this time followed by a nap.

He was actually on the fire frontline with the firefighters. But keep on, you are oh so funny.

[Thailand]

"Unhealthy" today and every chance it will get worse in to the next two months.

I think another committee needs to be formed!

[BritManToo]

27 minutes ago, Thailand said:

"Unhealthy" today and every chance it will get worse in to the next two months.

I think another committee needs to be formed!

It's always over at Songkran, so only another 6 weeks of pollution.

[Bundooman]

11 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Yes, the so-called journalist who wrote that piece and sensational headline without a shred of support by numbers. While not good at all today, the air quality in CM is certainly nowhere at the top in the world, and in fact still quite acceptable unless you have conditions.

So, tough s**t for those with 'conditions', then ................... 

[drkenchao]

it seems bangkok air quality is deteriorating recently, even worse than CM? it needs ufgent attsntion to attract tourist and wealthy retirees

[drkenchao]

bangkok air pollution
difficult to tackle, one
reason being online
purchase and food order
so popular and motorbikes
inevitably used for the
transport, others push the
blame to cambodia
farmers burning the crops?
and even burning incense
sticks in temples recently

hanoi, vietnam is thinking about
motorbike ban in certain
districts too by 2025,
should thailand follow?
https://e.vnexpress.net
/news/news/hanoi-to
-evaluate-motorbike

[Deserted]

It's been a long time since they didn't have that problem. It's not going away anytime soon, at least for another 50 years I'd say.

[novacova]

On 8/23/2024 at 7:35 AM, Deserted said:

It's been a long time since they didn't have that problem. It's not going away anytime soon, at least for another 50 years I'd say.

It went away, no smoke outside now.