Air quality in Thailand has worsened dramatically, with PM2.5 levels surpassing safety thresholds in 42 provinces, including regions from the north, northeast, and central areas. The Air Pollution Resolution Communication Centre reported early on Tuesday, April 15, that these unsafe levels could intensify over the next week.

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In the north, provinces such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Nan registered PM2.5 levels ranging from 54.2 to 201.1 microgrammes per cubic metre, which is well above the safety standard. The northeast showed similar readings, with concentrations between 30.6 and 190.1 microgrammes. Central provinces like Nonthaburi and Ayutthaya recorded figures from 30.5 to 91.6 microgrammes.

Bangkok and adjacent areas experienced PM2.5 levels from 25.0 to 42.0 microgrammes across four zones. Meanwhile, the eastern regions maintained moderate air quality, with figures between 17.8 and 33.9 microgrammes. The situation signals a severe increase in pollution across crucial regions.

Affected Provinces:

• North: Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun.

• Northeast: Bueng Kan, Nong Khai, Loei, Udon Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Amnat Charoen, Chaiyaphum, Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket.

• Central and Western: Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Sing Buri, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi.

Forecasters warn that pollution might worsen, affecting health and daily life. Authorities and environmental agencies must implement strategies to combat the escalating crisis and reduce health risks. Continued monitoring and advisories are anticipated as the situation evolves.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 15 Apr 2026

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Same as last year and the year before that and so on.

Politicians are not interested in clean air .

Probably no money to be made.

Everyone complains but everyday i see people burning.

If they want to clean this up you have to start with the man in the mirror,

or get serious about enforcing the non burning law.

Same manure different day.

Just wait a few more week as temperatures increase; and if the predicted super El Nino arrives later this year ....

I wold still be living there if not for that nightmare each year..

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Authorities and environmental agencies must implement strategies to combat the escalating crisis and reduce health risks. Continued monitoring and advisories are anticipated as the situation evolves.

So nothing will be done.

Wasn't here on AN an article about cloud seeding a couple of weeks ago ?

I wonder what happened to that.

We need rain !!

Meanwhile Thais around me all day without mouth masks.

When I ask them , they say no need , they are Thai. 😉

Move down south and never look back, i pay the same for virtually all and even less for beers, compared to Chiang Mai. And I also got infinite beaches and dozens of island on top. People must be locked in life to ignore this stuff and remain living in it.

It is not different than smoking 2 packs of cigs a day, if not worse, as it's second hand smog. Always thought it was so funny when I still smoked and lived up north, when oldies would whine about me having a cigaret in front of the restaurant, while in 140 air quality.

Meanwhile my lung capacity increased instantly by moving, it felt like breathing real air again and more. Not to mention that I overall reduced having <deleted>ty weather from 4-6 months a year to just 2 months a year real rain season and 1 month hot.

Even it is hot not down south I still pay less running 2 AC 24/7, than I did in normal months up north too. Less wind there. Oh yeah and there is still is daily food markets and street food everywhere, beers from 60 baht and so on and on.

I'm not gonna tell you where this magical part of an island is either but i'll give you a hint that most only know the island from it's infamous party areas while being around 2 other populair islands that are smaller. Most of it's south and east side is still Thai style.

Nature still does it things, buffalos are everywhere, chickens everywhere, grass grows wild flowers and other herbs as it it should, being super healthy in terms of soil, as of no pesticides at all and no fertilizers at all. Water quality from a waterfall direct being pristine too.

It's then when I realized that most of Thailand was entirely destroyed, it's wild life, it's raw nature, the quality of soil and water and air. Guess I am happy that where I live most land is owned by majesty and can't be ruined.