Blood clots, burning eyes: pollution chokes north Thailand

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CHIANG MAI: Toxic smog has reached critical levels in Northern Thailand, causing severe health issues for residents on Friday, Monitoring stations in Chiang Mai and surrounding provinces recorded PM2.5 concentrations exceeding safety limits by more than twenty times. 

Local medical facilities have reported a surge in patients suffering from respiratory distress, burning eyes, and blood clots linked to prolonged exposure to the hazardous haze.

The environmental crisis is primarily attributed to seasonal agricultural burning and forest fires, exacerbated by stagnant weather conditions that trap pollutants in the mountainous terrain. As of early April this year, the government has faced intense pressure to declare the region a disaster zone, with activists criticizing the lack of long-term solutions to the recurring ‘smog season.’ 

While authorities have distributed masks and advised staying indoors, the economic impact on the tourism-dependent northern economy continues to deepen.

Health experts warn that the current air toxicity poses a long-term threat to the population's well-being. Although some rainfall is expected later in the week, officials noted that substantial relief will require more aggressive intervention in land-clearing practices.

Photo Credits: AFP - A hillside wildfire is seen from a road in Chiang Mai