Posted Today, 15:56

Nakhon Si Thammarat forest fire continues to rage

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 14 August 2012 (NNT) - In addition to heavy smog covering the South caused by Indonesia’s forest fires, fires in a peat swamp forest in Nakhon Si Thammarat province are still blazing, sending thick smoke billowing skyward.

Authorities are unable to contain the fires in the province’s Khuan Khreng peat swamp forest, which have destroyed over 10,000 rai of land in Cha-uat district. Due to the intensity of the blaze and strong winds fanning out the fire, firefighters can only attempt to put out the fire in the mornings and at nights.

The ongoing forest fire is reportedly taking a heavy toll on the local fishing business and the bulrush handicraft business in the nearby areas.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Forest Fire Control division chief, Suphachoke Prahmpoon, said he is leading an investigative team into the affected areas to inspect whether the swamp forest fire was started by human activities. The team consists of security personnel, police officers and soldiers from local agencies.

Meanwhile, grassland fires have grounded flights at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport yesterday as the thick smoke interfered with the flight operations.

Airlines have resumed services this morning after passengers and airport staff were transferred to Surat Thani airport yesterday.

-- NNT 2012-08-14

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Help underway to stop southern forest fires

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Aug 15 - More forestry and national park officials will be dispatched to Thailand's southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat to fight forest fires that have damaged large areas and have shown signs of getting worse, a Thai official said.

Thanakorn Raktham, chief of the forest fire station in Pak Panang District of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, said the fires have ravaged peat swamps in three national parks and severely affected residents in five nearby districts.

Dust has accumulated at a higher level, he said, warning that the worsening situation could drag on until September unless it rains.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has reinforced forestry and national park officials to help extinguish the fires and predicted that the situation should be under control in at least a week.

The fires are man-made and the Fourth Army Region has been requested to take action against those who set fire to the area so as to clear the land for commercial plantation.

Department of Pollution Control director Vichien Jungrungrueng expressed concern that the worsening situation was intensified by atmospheric haze from forest fires and annual burning in Sumatra, Indonesia, which has spread over several southern provinces of Thailand.

Two air-quality measurement vehicles will be sent to Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang provinces to check the level of dust in order to correctly evaluate the situation and dispatch assistance to people there, Mr Vichien said. (MCOT online news)

[tna][/tna]