Thailand warns of high pollution, officials to work from home

BANGKOK: Thai authorities warned that pollution levels in Bangkok and surrounding provinces had hit unhealthy levels on Thursday, ordering government employees in the capital to work from home for the next two days and urging others to do the same.

Air pollution is caused by a combination of crop-related burning, industrial pollution and heavy traffic, and a smoky haze covered the Bangkok’s skyline.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters that crop burning was the main culprit behind the spike, but added that around quarter of the pollution was from vehicles, a factor “we can control”.

Swiss air quality tracking website IQAir said the level of fine inhalable particles in the city was 15 times higher than the recommended level by the World Health Organisation, making it the world’s 8th most polluted city on Thursday.

“It’s getting worse because there’s too much smoke haze,” said motorcycle taxi driver Kornpong Poprakun, 57. “I feel itchy eyes because there’s a lot of dust, and breathing isn’t easy.”

In a bid to curb traffic pollution, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told staff at the Metropolitan Administration’s agencies to work from home and said other employees should also do the same.