Over 350 schools in Bangkok closed Friday due to hazardous air quality, prompting authorities to offer free public transport for a week. The city is grappling with a seasonal surge in air pollution caused by crop burning and vehicle emissions, pushing PM2.5 levels to dangerous levels.
Thailand's capital, Bangkok , faced severe air pollution on Friday, prompting the closure of over 350 schools, the highest number in five years. City authorities announced free public transport for a week to alleviate traffic congestion, which exacerbates the already hazardous air quality. The city has been shrouded in a haze for several days, a recurring seasonal phenomenon in Southeast Asia.
The air pollution is primarily caused by a combination of factors including colder, stagnant winter air, smoke from crop stubble burning, and emissions from vehicles. On Friday morning, PM2.5 levels, tiny particles known to cause cancer, reached 108 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended 24-hour average exposure of 15 micrograms. Authorities have implemented various measures to combat the crisis, including urging people to work from home, restricting heavy vehicles, and banning crop stubble burning.Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered a ban on stubble burning, threatening prosecution for those who violate the order. Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced that public transport services, including the Skytrain, metro, light rail, and buses, would be free for a week, starting Saturday. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, called for stricter measures, including limiting construction in Bangkok and collaborating with neighboring countries to address the transboundary nature of air pollution. The issue of air pollution extends beyond Thailand, affecting neighboring countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, which also experienced high levels of air pollution this week. Schools in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh were also impacted, highlighting the severity of the regional crisis. UNICEF reported that climate shocks, including air pollution, disrupted the education of 242 million children globally in 2024
AIR POLLUTION THAILAND BANGKOK SCHOOLS PUBLIC TRANSPORT PM2.5 CLIMATE CHANGE SEASONAL POLLUTION
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