Wildfires continue to choke Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is struggling with severe air pollution as wildfires spread across several districts, with over 150 hot spots detected.

- PANUMET TANRAKSA

Wildfires continued to burn yesterday in mountainous areas in the northern province, with 150 active hotspots across 16 districts. The hardest-hit districts include Hot with 26 hotspots, Chiang Dao with 26 and Phrao with 23.

Thick smoke continued to blanket the city — currently the world’s third most polluted — causing eye and throat irritation among residents.

Pollution levels remain dangerously high, prompting local authorities to activate fountains and use water-spraying vehicles along the old city moat to increase humidity and mitigate the haze, particularly in densely populated areas.