Does anyone know how much must burn down to get such a thick layer of smog? The wall of smog came in in the early morning, looked like a wall of rain first but when the smell came I knew it better...

It could be because of this that is in the news.

Hundreds of families evacuated following smog caused by garbage disposal site fire

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/711442-thailand-live-monday-17-mar-2014/page-2#entry7571470

Update here: http://www.thaivisa....lies-evacuated/

Smoke from garbage dump fire blankets part of Eastern Bangkok

Thick smoke has blanketted Bang Na and surrounding areas after a huge fire broke out at a garbage dump in Soi Praeksa 8, Bang Pu district, Samut Prakarn province on Sunday afternoon.

Officials from Pollution Control Department rushed to the area to check the pollution level of the site.

Hundreds of families living near the dump last night including those in Saensuk Cooperatives housing estate and Thanyaporn housing estate were evacuated to a centre and nearby communities as the polluted smokes engulfed the area. The evacuation continued on Monday to escape the haze.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Smoke-from-garbage-dump-fire-blankets-part-of-East-30229386.html

Since it's a garbage dump on fire there is probably some nasty stuff in all that smoke.

Wonder if the airport is impacted at all? Visibility seems pretty limited.

I already noticed the strong smell on Sunday night. Was frantically wandering around the house and also checked the neighborhood to see whether something was on fire.

Only learned about the garbage dump fire Monday morning. It must be huge given the fact that I live over 30 km away from the site.

Sunday afternoon I took this picture. At this time I didn't know that the garbage dump was on fire:

After the wind direction changed in the late afternoon you can clearly see the wall of smog.

I'm not in Thailand now, but the same garbage dump caught fire maybe 1 1/2 years ago. Same thing happened. Could see if from my condo on Suk 77. You just hope the wind is blowing the other way.

Maybe the garbage dump need to catch fire from time to time, for example if Khon Thais beloved plastic bags start to overfill the dump.…

Even in Koh Samui the pollution has been the worst I have seen in a decade. For several months now, since the rains stopped. It has been suggested we are starting to see an influx of pollution from China, I was looking at some wind flow charts. The pollution appears to blow out into the South China Sea, and then, a set of wind currents consistently blows south, and when it gets to the south end of Vietnam, another set of currents blows west. It makes sense that we are seeming Chinese pollution, which is some of the worst in the world. A new era for Thailand? Even in the US, on the west coast, now up to 30% of the particulate matter comes from China. They are not only fouling their own air, but the worlds air.

They can not get the fire under control....

This picture is from one hour ago...

Was wondering what that overcast was about, kept the balcony doors & windows shut. Typical Thailand and their ability to think ahead or think at all. Burn all their trash (including rubber items) & with no real fire control, but than again they have no fire stations or fire trucks (just private pick-ups with a water bin, manual pump & hose). At least they dispose of their sewage, toilets & whatever. There's a rather large sewage dump coming from Krabi spilling into the ocean, about a half mile north of Ao Nang beach & about another half mile or less (definitely less) from Krabi's scuba diving locations.

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The fire is still burning.

They can't get it under control, even after days.

I think in such a case they should ask experienced fire experts. But that would be probably a foreigner, so they fear to lose face and therefore better let the fire burn...

mai pen rai...

This morning the highly toxic cloud from a burning waste dump in Samut Prakarn, a neighborhooded province of Bangkok, was moving towards the center of Bangkok.

Maybe now the Thais wake up slowly and try to fix the problem more seriously?

^ Where (and when) is that picture from? I'm guessing that's Bang Na - Trat highway? Looking east? But where exactly? I should know as I drive this route frequently but am focused on the traffic rather than the landmarks/buildings.

This morning the highly toxic cloud from a burning waste dump in Samut Prakarn, a neighborhooded province of Bangkok, was moving towards the center of Bangkok.

Maybe now the Thais wake up slowly and try to fix the problem more seriously?

Still not nearly as bad as Chiang Mai, the Thais will as usual do nothing. Wad up & throw a 1000 Baht note into the street & they will scramble as if it was the end of the world.

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