Fires in the Kiew Tap Yung forest, which straddles the Muang and Mae Chan districts of Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai, have increased the amount of PM2.5 dust in the air to hazardous levels in 23 areas, including 9 which have been declared as red zones.

According to the Air4Thai website, of the Pollution Control Department, the amount of PM2.5 dust in the atmosphere in Wiang Pang Kham sub-district of Mae Sai district, at 2pm today, was measured at 430 microns, or eight times higher than the safety level.

Additionally, the level of PM10 dust in the sub-district has been four times higher than the safety level for 6 consecutive days.

Excessive PM2.5 dust was also reported in the following areas:

• Wiang sub-district in Muang district of Chiang Rai, 120 microns.
• Sriphum sub-district in Muang district of Chiang Mai, 103 microns.
• Nai Muang sub-district in Muang district of Phitsanuloke, 111 microns.
• Nai Muang sub-district in Muang district of Nan, 96 microns.
• Ban Tom sub-district in Muang district of Phayao, 93 microns.

Officials in Chiang Rai reported that about 160 hectares of Kiew Tap Yung forest have been ravaged by forest fires.