More Than 350 Schools Ordered to Close
Government Expands Dust Protection Facilities in Restaurants and Takes Action
In Thailand, damage continues as air pollution, including fine dust, worsens and disrupts flight operations.
Yonhap News, citing local media such as the Bangkok Post and The Nation on the 3rd, reported, "The previous morning at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, aircraft could not land normally due to poor visibility caused by fine dust." Ultimately, these aircraft changed their landing destination to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Additionally, AirAsia passenger planes departing from Chiang Mai, Thailand, reportedly circled in the air before landing while waiting for visibility to improve.
Due to worsening air pollution such as fine dust in Thailand, disruptions in flight operations are occurring, causing continuous damage. On the 3rd (local time), local media including the Bangkok Post and The Nation reported that the previous morning at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, aircraft were unable to land normally due to poor visibility caused by fine dust. AP·Yonhap News
According to reports, as of the morning of the 2nd, the concentration of ultrafine dust (PM2.5) in all areas of Bangkok rose above the safety standard, and the air quality in major regions of Thailand recently deteriorated to some of the worst levels in the world. In particular, during the dry winter season (December to March) in Thailand, air pollutants such as vehicle exhaust combine with the cold winter air, causing air stagnation and severe air quality issues.
The Nation reported, "As of 11 a.m. that day, the concentration of ultrafine dust (PM2.5) at Don Mueang Airport was measured at 64.7㎍/㎥." According to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) targeting Bangkok citizens, 74.4% of respondents said the ultrafine dust problem was "very serious," and 18.55% said it was "somewhat serious." In response, the Thai government has launched an all-out effort to mitigate air pollution and protect public health.
The government issued a school closure order and made public transportation such as subways free of charge for one week starting from the 25th of last month to reduce vehicle emissions. Additionally, the operation of heavy machinery was restricted in areas such as downtown Bangkok, and burning of harvest residues was prohibited in rural areas. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.
The government issued a school closure order and made public transportation such as subways free for one week starting from the 25th of last month to reduce vehicle emissions. It also restricted the operation of heavy machinery in areas such as downtown Bangkok and banned the burning of crop residues in rural areas. Thai health authorities are conducting a campaign to equip dust protection facilities in hospitals and schools nationwide.
Furthermore, the government plans to increase the number of restaurants equipped with dust protection facilities by 20,000 within three months. Currently, 234 restaurants in 9 provinces have "dust protection rooms," but this will be significantly expanded to accommodate customers with health issues. Prime Minister Pattontan Chinnawat of Thailand emphasized in a TV speech, "Air pollution is a problem for the entire region," and stressed, "Cooperation with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries is necessary to respond to ultrafine dust."
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