CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Thailand’s government moved to tighten measures against wildfires, smog and PM2.5 in the upper North as air pollution levels remained far above the official safety threshold, while new ‘dust-free rooms’ were rolled out as immediate protection for high-risk groups.
Government visit to assess crisis in the North
Prime and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was scheduled to lead an inter-agency delegation to Chiang Mai on Monday to review efforts to control wildfires, haze and PM2.5 across the region.
Government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said the trip aimed to consolidate on-site assessments and speed up the implementation of measures in the northern provinces.
Schedule: Policy seminar and northern inspection tour
On Monday, Anutin was set to chair a seminar on political direction and budget preparation for the 2027 fiscal year.
He was then due to travel north with the delegation to examine conditions directly in the affected provinces.
Coordination with provinces and disaster agencies
The programme included meetings with relevant ministers, provincial authorities and representatives of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command.
According to spokesperson Rachada, the focus was on strengthening proactive measures and translating political guidelines into measurable results, as fires and smog continued to harm the environment and public health.
Measures under discussion: farming, imports, health
Talks were expected to cover a broad package of actions, including agricultural practices in highland areas and additional support for wildfire suppression in the North.
They also addressed controls or bans on imports of agricultural products from neighbouring countries linked to slash-and-burn, as well as public health measures.
PM2.5 levels far above safety threshold
Pollution remained high, with PM2.5 concentrations in northern provinces over the past 24 hours reported at between 62.8 and 218 µg/m³.
These readings significantly exceeded the state-defined safety limit of 37.5 µg/m³, despite ongoing countermeasures.
‘Dust-free rooms’ as immediate shield for risk groups
To protect vulnerable groups, a pilot project was launched using a “dust-free room” developed by Chiang Mai University, which was installed on Saturday at Viengping Children’s Home in Mae Rim district.
The low-cost system, priced at around 3,600 Baht, used positive pressure, self-built air purifiers and IoT sensors to improve indoor air quality.
Expansion to 83 sites in eight provinces
Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat said the technology provided immediately available and affordable protection while long-term solutions were being developed.
In a first phase, the system was to be expanded to 83 locations in eight northern provinces, focusing on children, older people and patients, before a nationwide rollout planned at a later stage.
Warning over highly toxic smog
The visit also took place against the backdrop of a warning from a lung specialist who had described the haze over the North as highly toxic.
The government stressed that all relevant agencies should jointly assess the situation and tighten prevention and control of fires, haze and PM2.5 “in all dimensions.”