Flights to Mae Hong Son disrupted as smog levels soar

The amount of small particulate matter up to 10 microns in diameter (PM10) in 24 hours peaked at 156 micrograms per cubic metre of air and was at 138 micrograms on average – compared to the Sunday’s peak of 180. The safe level of PM10 is 120 micrograms, which if exceeded, it could pose health risks to people. 
Bangkok Airways cancelled its two morning flights between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son while the evening ones still operated as usual. 
All four flights of Kan Air were cancelled until tomorrow (Feb 28). Kan Air also brought a 12-seat aircraft to transport its stranded passengers in one trip on Monday. 
It was suspected that the haze there stemmed from many villagers taking the opportunity to do outdoor burning before the 61-day ban would be imposed from March 1-April 30.
Muang Mae Hong Son district chief Pisit Boonkij-anan urged residents and community leaders to refrain from outdoor burning. Provincial natural resource and environment office head Somsak Sappakosolkul said his office would arrange a helicopter survey on forest fire situation around the district later today as to assess and find solutions to the problem.
Other northern provinces’ PM10 readings remain normal while the Pollution Control Department urged related agencies to help prevent outdoor burning and advised small children, elderly persons and those suffering from chronic respiratory illness to avoid staying outdoor and seek medical attention if having sickness.
Public Health permanent secretary Dr Sopon Mekthon said that he had already instructed the Northern Region’s public health office to distribute facemasks to affected residents, dispatch medical teams to provide health check on at-risk groups in the affected area, and to have each of district hospitals to modify a conference hall or large room as a “clean room” with air-filtered conditioners to support affected patients.