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Families weigh relocation as pollution worsens
Residents of Chiang Mai, once drawn to the city's cool climate and scenic hills, are now reconsidering their future as hazardous air quality threatens their children's health.
Tirayut Wongsantisuk, 41, and his wife moved to the northern Thai city in the 2010s but are now contemplating leaving after their daughters suffered repeated nosebleeds. "If something serious happens to our child, we'll regret it forever," Tirayut told the BBC.
Chiang Mai ranks among world's most polluted cities
This week, thick smoke from wildfires and agricultural burning blanketed the region, obscuring mountain views and leaving a persistent burning odor. Monitoring group IQAir listed Chiang Mai as one of the globe's most polluted cities.
Satellite data recorded 4,750 hotspots across Thailand on Tuesday, primarily in forested zones. By Wednesday morning, PM2.5 levels-tiny particles linked to severe health risks-reached "very unhealthy" concentrations.
Fire season peaks amid dry conditions
From November to March, farmers burn fields to prepare for planting, while wildfires erupt naturally due to arid conditions. Local media shared images of mountains engulfed in flames, with residents comparing the infernos to "erupting volcanoes."
Authorities responded by closing high-risk parks and warning that anyone igniting fires would face immediate arrest. Illegal forest burning carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines of 2 million baht ($61,100).
Health risks force temporary-and permanent-exits
Tirayut's six-year-old daughter developed nosebleeds, a rash, and swollen eyelids from the haze. Similarly, Benjamas Jaiparkan, 35, sent her children to Phayao province for cleaner air but is now considering a permanent move.
"I don't know how much more my son's lungs can endure,"
Benjamas Jaiparkan, public school teacher
Exposure to PM2.5 can trigger symptoms from itchy eyes to heart attacks, experts warn.
Legal pressure mounts on government
In July 2023, 1,700 Chiang Mai residents sued former Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and two agencies for failing to curb pollution, alleging it shortens lifespans by five years. A court ruling in January 2024 ordered the government to draft an emergency air-quality plan within 90 days.
Regional crisis
Thailand isn't alone: Malaysia and Indonesia reported the highest number of hotspots in seven years, as smoke engulfs parts of Southeast Asia.
