Thread: Chiang Mai’s air pollution the world’s worst again on Sunday

Chiang Mai had the worst air quality in the world on Sunday, with forest fires in several districts and neighbouring Myanmar, according to the IQAir app.


According to the Geo-Informatics Space Technology and Development Agency (GISTDA), 1,474 hotspots were detected throughout Thailand yesterday, with 7,134 in Myanmar, 1,047 in Laos, 254 in Cambodia, 220 in Vietnam and 6 in Malaysia.


Chiang Mai was choked by PM2.5 dust, measured at 85µg/m³ yesterday, as forest fires were reported in several districts, such as Ban Santisook in Doi Tao.


The Pollution Control Department reported that PM2.5 exceeded the safe level in every northern province today, with 143µg/m³.


In Umphang district of Tak province, one man was arrested for making charcoal in protected forest.

Chiang Mai’s air pollution the world’s worst again on Sunday

High alert in 17 Northern Provinces as air pollution rises

Dust blankets Northern Region: Authorities order special monitoring for 17 Northern Provinces after dust levels iise from over 55,000 hot spots in neighboring countries
Jirayu Huangsub, Advisor to The National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Centre, revealed that during the meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) reported 6,713 hotspots detected across Thailand.


The five provinces with the highest number of hotspots are:


Tak – 1,004 hotspots
Chiang Mai – 656 hotspots
Lampang – 643 hotspots
Nan – 453 hotspots
Phayao – 448 hotspots

Meanwhile, hotspots in neighbouring countries continue to accumulate, particularly in Myanmar, where 55,839 hotspots have been detected. Authorities will closely monitor air pollution levels until March 23, 2025, especially in upper northern provinces bordering Myanmar.


This aligns with data from the Pollution Control Department, which reports that air quality nationwide remains within normal to good levels, except for all 17 northern provinces, where air quality has reached levels harmful to public health. The PM2.5 concentration in these provinces ranges from 25.6 to 143.0 µg/m³, classified as orange level (unhealthy for sensitive groups).

"During today's meeting, all agencies in the 17 northern provinces were specifically instructed to closely monitor rising air pollution levels until March 23, particularly in upper northern areas bordering neighbouring countries."


Meanwhile, the Department of Industrial Works reported that inspections have been conducted across 17 northern provinces to ensure factories comply with regulations and mitigate pollution sources.


From November 2024 to the present, a total of 759 factories have been inspected, with 752 found in compliance and 7 requiring corrective actions before resuming operations.


Additionally, the Royal Thai Police conducted vehicle emissions inspections from March 12–16, 2025, checking 15,440 vehicles, resulting in 1,152 prosecutions and 8,862 warnings for excessive emissions. Authorities also conducted 862 patrols to prevent the illegal burning of forests, crops, and farmland, leading to 10 legal cases.

High alert in 17 Northern Provinces as air pollution rises

Originally Posted by misskit

Authorities also conducted 862 patrols to prevent the illegal burning of forests, crops, and farmland, leading to 10 legal cases

don't seem to be working .

The pollution has been very bad last couple of days. You could see the smog hanging low to the ground. Air purifiers working overtime.

This morning seems to have lightened up a bit, thankfully.

I never remember heavy smoke back in early 2000. Makes one wonder if climate change has slowly dried up the jungle allowing it to burn more these days. Some of the forests around Mae Taeng north of Chiang Mai seemed to get drier and drier each year around 2015.