Chiang mai: Chiang Mai is still suffering from air pollution; the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the area this afternoon. Chiang Mai and several other northern provinces have been grappling with toxic smog for months, severely impacting health. A Chiang Mai MP from the People's Party distributed masks, and a network held signs demanding clean air. They urged the government to have a serious plan to address the problem for Chiang Mai residents and to bring the Clean Air Act to parliament before May 13th. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Chiang Mai this afternoon to monitor the wildfire and air pollution issues.

According to Thai News Agency, the atmosphere in Chiang Mai city, especially around Khuang Sing intersection, is still shrouded in smog from toxic PM2.5 dust that blankets the entire city. Many people are still going about their daily lives, particularly those who rely on motorcycles for work, reporting eye irritation and sore throats. They can only offer basic protection by wearing masks. Although Chiang Mai has dropped to 6th place in the ranking of the world's most polluted cities, PM2.5 dust continues to blanket the city. Many districts remain heavily polluted, particularly in the mornings when hourly PM2.5 levels spike in some areas. According to the Chiang Mai University website (cmuccdc), at 7:00 AM, the highest PM2.5 level was recorded at Ban Doi San Kiang, Chang Khueang Subdistrict, Mae Jam District, at 321 micrograms per cubic meter, followed by Thep Sadet Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, at 301 micrograms per cubic meter. These levels far exceed the standard and are classified as red, indicating ai r quality with significant health risks.

While several provinces in northern Thailand recorded their highest hourly PM2.5 levels at 7:00 AM today, the highest reading was at Ban Nam Phrao station, Sai Yoi Subdistrict, Den Chai District, Phrae Province, reaching 663 micrograms per cubic meter. This exceeds the standard by more than 13 times, compared to Thailand's 24-hour average standard of no more than 50. The second highest reading was at Pang Mapha Hospital, Sop Pong Subdistrict, Pang Mapha District, Mae Hong Son Province, at 499 micrograms per cubic meter.

Ms. Petcharat Maichomphu, MP for Chiang Mai Constituency 1 of the People's Party, distributed masks to Chiang Mai residents at Khuang Sing Intersection and organized a campaign urging the government to seriously and urgently address the PM2.5 dust pollution problem. She urged the government and ministers visiting the area to resolve the issue immediately and proposed solutions, suggesting that the government designate PM2.5 pollution as a seasonal challenge for Chiang Mai residents and the northern region. She proposed a short-term and long-term plan with maximum public participation, decentralizing power and allocating budgets to frontline firefighters to ensure timely action. Finally, she requested that the Clean Air Act draft be brought before the House of Representatives before it is dropped if not presented by May 13th.

This afternoon, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul will visit Chiang Mai to monitor the situation and address the problems of forest fires, haze, and PM2.5 at the 7th Infantry Division in Mae Rim District, before proceeding to Doi Saket District to monitor forest fire fighting efforts and encourage officials.