A warning about cross-border haze, from widespread forest fires in Myanmar this coming week, has been issued by the Geo-Informatics Space Technology and Development Agency (GISTDA) for people living in Thailand’s northern, north-eastern and western provinces.
GISTDA has reported 2,855 hot spots in Myanmar, in addition to those in the Thai provinces of Chaiyaphum (257), Tak (163), Khon Kaen (133), Mukdahan (128) and Sakhon Nakhon (109).
As Thailand enters the dry season, warmer air will blow the pollutants from Myanmar across the border into Thailand.
The Pollution Control Department has been coordinating with its counterparts in Myanmar and Laos on tackling the cross-border haze problem, according to Preeyaporn Suwanaged, the department’s director-general.
She said that both Laotian and Burmese governments have strengthened enforcement of the laws and educated their people not to set forest fires or burn farm waste.
A joint working committee has been formed by the three countries to address the haze problem which is usually at its worst during the dry season.
