BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s annual smog season has intensified again, with PM2.5 levels in Bangkok already breaching critical thresholds amid ongoing crop fires in the north and central plains.
Pollution from field burning spreads south
Meteorologists confirmed on 9 November 2025 that seasonal winds carried fine dust and soot from northern Thai provinces across the country. The phenomenon has trapped harmful PM2.5 particles in lowland areas as the dry season strengthens.
“Saisonale Winde tragen eine Mischung aus Staub und Feinstapartikeln aus den nördlichen Regionen in ganz Thailand ein,”
said Meteorological Department Officials.
According to the Bangkok Air Quality Information Center, monitoring stations recorded 35.5 µg/m³ in Prawet and 35.1 µg/m³ in Lat Krabang, the capital’s eastern districts, on 9 November 2025. Officials warned that these numbers will likely climb over the coming months.
“Die Werte werden im Laufe des Winters noch deutlich steigen,”
said a government officer.
Farmers keep burning despite warnings
Rural communities in provinces north of Bangkok continued to rely on open burning of rice stubble, even after repeated government appeals. Local officials admitted that traditional containment strategies no longer work.
“Es ist billig, schnell und bequem,”
said a Central Region rice farmer.
“Wir brauchen dringend regionale Zusammenarbeit,”
said an environmental expert.
Authorities confirmed that crop fires remain the primary driver behind the country’s recurring pollution spikes, yet enforcement gaps and economic pressures keep the practice in place.
Health sector issues new alerts
Doctors in Bangkok hospitals have warned against the small particulate matter that can penetrate deep into lungs, aggravating asthma and other conditions. Nationwide, emergency rooms admitted thousands with breathing difficulties during the previous winter.
“Besonders Kinder, Ältere und Vorerkrankte sollten bei steigenden Werten Outdoor-Aktivitäten meiden,”
said a Bangkok lung specialist.
Health agencies estimate that tens of thousands of patients could require treatment this season if pollution levels worsen, especially in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and central provinces.
Government under pressure to act
As November 2025 progresses, smog masks have reappeared in public spaces across Bangkok, raising memories of previous health crises. Environmental bodies urged the Thai government to increase cross-regional coordination and to enforce stronger restrictions on agricultural burning.
Officials have yet to release any new regulatory framework for the 2025–2026 dry season, leaving public health authorities bracing for another severe haze episode.
- PM2.5 readings: 35.5 µg/m³ in Prawet, 35.1 µg/m³ in Lat Krabang (Nov 9, 2025)
- Main cause: open burning of crop residues in northern and central Thailand
- Health risk: respiratory illnesses among children, elderly, and chronic patients
- Forecast: worsening smog through the 2025–2026 dry season
Experts reported that without regional agricultural alternatives and stricter enforcement, Thailand may face one of its most hazardous winters in recent years.