Bangkok's Air Crisis Escalates: Fourth Worst Globally for Pollution

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Bangkok's air quality plummeted dramatically today, landing it the unenviable position of being the fourth most polluted city in the world, as reported by the Swiss monitoring entity IQAir. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) rocketed to an alarming 188 by 9.40am, with the fine particulate matter PM2.5 spiking well above safety standards.

 

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) responded by designating 48 out of 50 districts as hazardous “red zones,” noting the PM2.5 particles had soared to an average of 88.4 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³), starkly surpassing the official safe threshold of 37.5µg/m³. Nong Khaem district recorded the highest pollution level, with PM2.5 reaching 108µg/m³, and was closely followed by other districts like Khan Na Yao and Min Buri.

 

Authorities have strongly advised residents to stay indoors, encouraging working from home and limiting outdoor activities to mitigate health risks. "This situation is extremely concerning, and we advise everyone to take necessary precautions," a City Hall representative stated.

 

 

The pollution crisis extends beyond Bangkok. Chiang Mai, a key northern tourist city, also struggled with elevated pollution, ranked 23rd globally with an AQI of 127µg/m³. Regionally, Bangkok's pollution was exceeded by Ho Chi Minh City, listed as Southeast Asia's most polluted city today, while Phnom Penh and Hanoi also grappled with severe air quality issues.

 

As the toxic air persists, public pressure mounts on Thai officials to combat the enveloping smog affecting both metropolitan and rural areas. For the present, retreating indoors with air purification seems the solitary defence against the hazardous skies.

 

The PM2.5 crisis is exacerbated during Thailand's dry season from November to April, where stagnant air allows pollutants to accumulate. Agricultural practices, like burning crop residues, considerably aggravate the situation, especially in the northern provinces. The government's strategies include recommending remote work, limiting outdoor activities, and establishing checkpoints to monitor pollution.

 

-- 2025-01-24

 

 

[klauskunkel]

 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The government's strategies include recommending remote work, limiting outdoor activities, and establishing checkpoints to monitor pollution.

What happened to this traditional strategy? Not working anymore? 

[Zack61]

I hope they put on extra services to cater for the increased passenger numbers. At rush hour now they pack them in like sardines and often people are unable to get on some of the trains. Can only imagine the mayhem during this week if the uptake is as high as they hope. 

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bangkok's air quality plummeted dramatically today, landing it the unenviable position of being the fourth most polluted city in the world, as reported by the Swiss monitoring entity IQAir.

So Paetongtarn what are you going to do, demand something or

Sack the governor?

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Authorities have strongly advised residents to stay indoors, encouraging working from home and limiting outdoor activities to mitigate health risks

And advice to tourists, this will not affect your ability to enjoy your stay in the worlds most popular city, please find indoor recreation and open your wallets as normal..... spend spend spend.

TAT would be ever so grateful.

[Captor]

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

 

What happened to this traditional strategy? Not working anymore? 

Working just fine 😀

[Captor]

No plans to prohibit and follow the law about burning? To easy?

[Trip Hop]

It’s not just Bangkok and the north either. A couple of weeks ago I was in Bang Saray on a sunny day, looking north towards Pattaya about 20Km away and it was fully encompassed in it. 

[KhunBENQ]

26 minutes ago, Trip Hop said:

It’s not just Bangkok and the north either.

Looked up yesterday and even deep south the air is all but healthy. The whole country is under a haze blanket.

[Tarteso]

[brewsterbudgen]

1 minute ago, Tarteso said:

That doesn't look like Bangkok!

[Tarteso]

Just now, brewsterbudgen said:

That doesn't look like Bangkok!

Indeed but Look like all is the same today

[NE1]

Ratchaburi....
Every night this week there is a real strong smell of smoke in the house , and in the morning a smoky haze and the stench of burnt cane.

 

[khunphil]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The pollution crisis extends beyond Bangkok. Chiang Mai, a key northern tourist city, also struggled with elevated pollution, ranked 23rd globally with an AQI of 127µg/m³.

 

Well, it is true that the figures in the north are not perfect (PM2.5  : 27 this morning in Chiangmai) but we are so so far from what will/should happen in some weeks/months here  that I personally feel quite OK now. A little bit too dramatic for the northern province.

[SiSePuede419]

Chiang Rai AQI (Moderate) 96

 

You ain't seen nothing yet.

Wait until a couple of months then you can taste the air and outside is 700+ and all your indoor air purifiers going full blast can't keep up.

 

But but but Bangkok is where the Farangs live who are too sophisticated to live in Chiang Mai, because there's not enough Farangs there. 🙄

[Justanotherone]

high season... lol.... tourists are dumb to come during toxic air burning season, known for decades and ZERO solutions

[Justanotherone]

[Sydebolle]

Stopping the burning of rice and sugar cane fields with fines will not happen. 

The governments in succession canvassed very professional, with the help of a little "token of appreciation", the votes for as long as I can think back. The problem now is, that the very same corrupt electorate, which has been voting nicely for the dinosaurs at the top, are the very same majority voter base for those governments. 

So, apart from little envelopes, the goons in the government now cannot breathe down the neck of the same farmers as they would for sure lose millions of votes in the next election. 

And, as long as education is a negligible nuisance on the budget, as long as teachers are semi-divine and the teaching material hardly worth the paper is is printed on - you get a perfect cocktail of "you cannot have your cake and eat it".

Just wondering when the leadership comes up with rain-making flights again or will set up misters all over Bangkok (at exorbitant pricing procured of course) to ineffectively try, what nature has been doing since its existence!

[Muhendis]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

And advice to tourists, this will not affect your ability to enjoy your stay in the worlds most popular city, please find indoor recreation and open your wallets as normal..... spend spend spend.

TAT would be ever so grateful.

Welcome to Thailand.

https://5.imimg.com/data5/SELLER/Default/2022/2/WM/BH/NQ/43947860/pvc-speed-breaker-1000x1000.jpg

[shackleton]

As long as the tourists keep coming they are the priority in Thailand money 💰 

Nothing will improve

but if there is  a downturn in numbers coming 😱

Well changes could happen very quickly 

[mancub]

1 hour ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Chiang Rai AQI (Moderate) 96

 

You ain't seen nothing yet.

Wait until a couple of months then you can taste the air and outside is 700+ and all your indoor air purifiers going full blast can't keep up.

 

But but but Bangkok is where the Farangs live who are too sophisticated to live in Chiang Mai, because there's not enough Farangs there. 🙄

Your first paragraph is an indication/ explanation of your second !

Or it could be too much "culture" and not enough "action"? Or maybe just too far from a beach ?

[connda]

Wait for another month and Chiang Mai AQI will have the entire world beat hands down.

[connda]

2 hours ago, khunphil said:

Well, it is true that the figures in the north are not perfect (PM2.5  : 27 this morning in Chiangmai) but we are so so far from what will/should happen in some weeks/months here  that I personally feel quite OK now. A little bit too dramatic for the northern province.

In another 30 to 40 days you probably won't be able to see those building in front no less Doi Suthep.

[daejung]

In this situation why don't they restrict car traffic and why don't they close down certain polluting industries?

[mancub]

If they can only deflect the issue for a few more weeks, then they'll be able to lay the blame on neighbouring countries, ( with a degree of justification)......

[thesetat]

20 minutes ago, connda said:

Wait for another month and Chiang Mai AQI will have the entire world beat hands down.

That is a good thing for Thailand. They can boast yet another place at being #1 in the world. They love these claims and it always hits the news. Perhaps Thailand can use this #4 place for their advertising in tourism... haha... maybe some will want to see how bad it really is..

[tomazbodner]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bangkok's air quality plummeted dramatically today, landing it the unenviable position of being the fourth most polluted city in the world, as reported by the Swiss monitoring entity IQAir.

Number 4 in the World? Number FOUR?!

That's disgusting!

Put the efforts of all farmers together and make it Number 1!

[spidermike007]

This is an absolute travesty, and fall squarely on the tiny shoulders of the do nothing PM. They're absolute unwillingness to do anything about this situation is an abomination and the list of things that could be done to address this problem are countless.

 

They could start by pulling over diesel vehicles spewing out enormous clouds of black smoke, but that would require the highway patrol to actually do some work, which they utterly refuse to do.

 

They could then get the provincial authorities to crack down on the heinous crop burning that's going on with sugar and rice, which is being perpetrated by farmers who have zero regard for their country nor their neighbors. Crack down on them hard and set an example. For the first offense with a small fine, much larger fines for a second offense and massive fines for the third offense. Word would get around and Farmers would start using more environment mentally friendly techniques even though they required more work. 

 

If the government cared one iota which they don't they would start convincing Farmers to switch crops and start moving away from 16th century crops like rice and sugar, moving toward more progressive crops which are potentially more profitable. If they felt the need to stick with rice and sugar they could educate the public on how those crops can be processed without burning, and subsidize the purchase of the required equipment. 

 

Progressive reform on burning - green harvesting

https://youtu.be/thXstqQcdQ4?si=yExPfXaED66a4vyP

[mran66]

5 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

 

What happened to this traditional strategy? Not working anymore? 

 

4 hours ago, Captor said:

Working just fine 😀

 

... And working good not only regarding air quality. Widely used with great success whenever/wherever problems requiring some concrete action appear.

 

Often the method is used in combination with blaming/fingerpointing someone else than the culprits themselves, amplifying the perceived impact of the method 

[bkk6060]

This morning is the worst day I have ever seen in Bangkok. Thick, chocking, lung disease filthy smog.

Terrible smoke buses and cars everywhere.