Sugarcane farm burning worsens air quality in East
The air quality at 6am in the eastern region of Thailand on Monday reached unhealthy levels as local farmers continued to burn sugarcane in their plantations.
The level of PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) in Prachinburi province is 43-80 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3), Sa Kaeo 80µg/m3, Chachoengsao 73µg/m3, Chonburi 56-62µg/m3 and Rayong 54-60µg/m3.
Sa Kaeo’s air quality index rose from 152 on Sunday to 157, signifying a worsening of pollution in the area.
Despite a haze issue, crop-burning is still spotted in 500,000 rai of sugarcane farms in six districts of Sa Kaeo.
Kaeo Ninla-or, 66, a Sa Kaeo resident, said that farmers usually burn crop leftovers from the harvest and the fire escalates.
Recently, he was also affected by the fire as it spread to his eucalyptus farm and burnt down two rai of it. Smog caused suffocation and he said he collapsed in the eucalyptus forest after trying to put out the fire.
He reported the situation to the officials of Khao Chakan Police Station but has not yet received any kind of help.