Thailand Air Quality: Northern region battles serious pollution

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02:25

For the past two weeks, northern Thailand has been battling levels of pollution categorized by the WHO as extremely hazardous. CGTN's Tony Cheng reports.

As you fly into Chiang Rai under the clouds a blanket of thick smog. From the air the ground barely visible shrouded in smoke. Elsewhere, planes couldn't even touch down. Mae Hong Son airport closed because of bad visibility.

Thailand's Prime Minister has mobilized civilian and military resources. And he was quick to issue commands to bring the problem under control.

GENERAL PRAYUT CHAN-O-CHA PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND "Today I want everyone to have the strong will to solve this problem within 7 days. In 7 days it must decrease as much as possible."

But determination alone is not enough. Thailand has shown itself to be poorly equipped to fight air pollution on such a huge scale. The problem is fires in the thick jungles and forests in the hills and mountains along Thailand's border. Slash and burn farming techniques are still common. And in these remote areas fires smolder unchecked for days.

Weather patterns have also sent clouds of pollution drifting over from Neighbouring Myanmar and Laos where the problems appear to be even worse. In the cities, water sprays have been deployed to try and clean the air. But record levels of fine particular pollution are being recorded suggesting it is having little impact.

PROFESSOR SUPAN VANICHPARINYAKUL CHIANG RAI RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY "There are forest fires every year. But this year in particular they have increased enormously especially at the border area. And we measure high levels of pm 2.5 pollution every day. That's why people are so alarmed."

Many residents have donned face masks for protection. But tourists who usually flock here for the cooler climate and the Thai new year festival are now staying away. Tony Cheng, CGTN Chiang Rai.