Bangkok: Thailand is experiencing a significant increase in the number of hotspots across the country, with data indicating a total of 3,763 hotspots, signaling ongoing severe wildfires and open burning. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) has utilized satellite technology to track and report these developments.

According to Thai News Agency, GISTDA's analysis from the Suomi NPP satellite, using the VIIRS system, revealed that the majority of these hotspots are located in protected forest areas, accounting for 1,917 points. National forest reserves follow with 1,152 hotspots, while agricultural areas have 354. Land reform areas for agriculture, community and other regions, and highways have 210, 123, and 7 hotspots respectively.

In contrast, Myanmar leads the region with 9,041 hotspots, contributing significantly to the transboundary haze affecting air quality across borders. Other neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia have recorded 3,266, 551, 496, and 111 hotspots respectively. This underscores the widespread nature of the wildfire and haze issue impacting the region.

GISTDA recommends vigilant monitoring of the situation and encourages the public to utilize its system for real-time hotspot data. This initiative aims to enhance the monitoring and response efforts concerning forest fires and haze situations promptly.