Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital, is grappling with severe air pollution, prompting city authorities to announce the closure of more than 350 schools due to the deteriorating conditions.
Seasonal air pollution is a recurring issue in Thailand, as in many neighboring countries, but conditions have significantly worsened this week. Since Thursday (January 23), Bangkok’s air pollution has surged, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassing 150, well above the threshold of 100 which is considered unhealthy.
As of Friday morning, the city ranked fourth on IQAir’s list of cities with the worst air pollution globally, recording an AQI of 188 at 9:40 a.m. local time, according to CNN Indonesia.
In response, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) authorized school closures to safeguard public health. “The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has closed 352 schools across 31 districts due to air pollution,” authorities stated via an official message shared on their LINE group, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
The closures impact 352 out of 437 schools under the BMA’s jurisdiction, affecting thousands of students. This is the highest number of closures since 2020 when air pollution also forced widespread school shutdowns.
Red Zones District
According to CNN Indonesia, BMA has declared 48 of Bangkok’s 50 districts as “red zones,” meaning the air quality is hazardous. The concentration of PM2.5 particles averaged 88.4 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³).
Nong Khaem district was the most affected, with PM2.5 levels reaching 108 µg/m³. According to IQAir, these tiny particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs, posing significant health risks.
Authorities have encouraged schools in high-pollution areas to close as needed and urged residents to work from home, limit outdoor activities, and reduce the use of heavy vehicles in the capital.
Government Response
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt attributed the surge in pollution to factors such as vehicle emissions, waste incineration and crop burning, a common practice used to clear agricultural land.
According to Detik, in an effort to mitigate the situation the Thailand’s Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, issued a ban on open-field burning. Therefore, violators could face legal action.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, speaking from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, called for stricter measures to tackle the crisis. His proposals included limiting urban development in Bangkok and pursuing collaborative efforts with neighboring countries to address transboundary pollution.
Regional Crisis
Bangkok air pollution crisis is part of a broader pattern affecting Southeast Asia. Other cities, including Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, ranked higher than Bangkok in air pollution levels, while Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Hanoi, Vietnam, also ranked among the top 10 cities with the poorest air quality.
Read also : Air Pollution Reaches Dangerous Levels in South and Southeast Asia
As authorities race to implement solutions, millions across the region continue to endure the health risks posed by prolonged exposure to harmful air pollutants.
(Raidi/Agung)
