"Hazardous" Indonesian haze blanket widens over South (Updated)

Air quality is at dangerous levels in parts of Indonesia yesterday and even in much of Thailand's lower south, the situation is deemed 'hazardous' and, from Friday morning reports, has only improved slightly.

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The haze situation in much of southern Thailand is bad, but it is worse for villagers in Indonesia living in the fire zone. Particulate matter (PM10) – dust and other particles small enough to affect breathing and damage lungs –  in Palangkaraya on Borneo, for example, has risen to more than six times the level considered hazardous.

According to AFP, experts warn the current outbreak is on track to become the worst ever, exacerbated by bone-dry conditions caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

The fires on the huge islands of Sumatra and Borneo are typically only brought under control by November with the onset of the rainy season.

Friday update

Early morning haze levels were only slightly improved from yesterday with Songkhla and Satun still recording PM-10 levels of over 250, more than twice the level considered safe. Krabi, too, was over 180 microgrammes per cubic metre. Increasing rain is predicted for the area and a change in wind direction could also improve the situation in coming days.

Thursday Noon update

Add Narathiwat and Surat Thani to the list. Here are morning readings from our online reporters:

The Pollution Control Department reported that unhealthy haze exceeded the safe level of 120 microgrammes per cubic metre of air in Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun, Songkhla, Surat Thani and Yala provinces.

The level of particulate matter measured in the past 24 hours peaked at the very unhealthy amount of 360 microgrammes in Hat Yai district of Songkhla, followed by 276 in Satun, 211 in Pattani, 182 in Surat Thani, 165 in Yala and 122 in Narathiwat.

Smoke haze also blanketed Phuket province but its level was at 117 microgrammes, just within the threshold level of 120 microgrammes.

Smoke haze at 'unsafe levels' in 4 southern provinces

Online reporters

The levels of particulate matter from Indonesia's forest fires in the southern provinces of Songkhla, Satun, Yala and Pattani have soared above safety levels, environmental authorities said on Wednesday.

Residents in all areas were advised to continually monitor the haze situation and wear face masks outside the home at all times.

The particulate matter (PM10) reading in the four provinces was measured on a rolling 24-hour average until 6pm, the Pollution Control Department said.

Songkhla was the hardest hit with the particulate matter reading at 267 microgrammes per cubic metre, far above the safety level of 120 and and up from 185 at 7am, followed by Satun at 165, Yala at 153 and Pattani at 139.

Halem Chemarikan, director of the 16th Regional Environment Office, said the levels of tiny dust particles in the South showed an increase based on the results monitored every three hours. The situation in the four provinces needed to be closely watched 24 hours a day as indications are that the situation will worsen.

Even Nakhon Si Thammarat, far up the coast on the Gulf of Thailand side, was affected by the Indonesian haze. NUCHAREE REKRUN

The situation could last from one day to 25 days, while more rain would help to disperse the haze. 

He said the haze was lingering because rainfalls were relatively scattered and winds were light. On Wednesday, there was low to moderate rainfall.

Street lights in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district and Satun town were turned on through the daytime as the thick haze blocked out the sunlight. Airports and flights in the South were operating normally, but small fishing boats could not go out to sea at night due to poor visibility.

Mr Halem advised children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions to stay at home. People should avoid areas of thick haze, refrain from doing outdoor exercise and wear a face mask at all times when outdoors.

The public was urged to drink more water, refrain from activities that create smoke and closely follow official announcements.

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