Bangkok orders 450 schools to close due to toxic smog
BANGKOK Toxic smog forced Bangkok authorities to issue an unprecedented order to shut nearly 450 schools yesterday, as the authorities struggle to manage a pollution crisis.
The Thai capital has been shrouded in murky haze for weeks, forcing residents to don masks and sparking social media criticism of the uneven response by the government.
Reasons given for the lingering pall include exhaust from traffic, unfettered construction, the burning of crop stubble and pollution from factories getting trapped in the city.
The authorities have seeded clouds to provoke rain, sprayed overpasses with water to catch micro-pollutants and asked people not to burn incense sticks and paper during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
The measures so far have provoked derision from many Bangkok residents, while stocks of pollution masks have run out in many shops.
But yesterday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration stepped up its health warnings, ordering all 437 city-controlled public schools to close from lunchtime through Friday, while designating 1,500 sq km of the city a "control area".
"The situation will be bad until Feb 3 to 4, so I decided to close schools," said Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang, adding he hoped the move would also empty the road of cars on the school run.
Three to four of the city's districts are "severely hit with smog", he added.
Fleets of drones are set to be deployed to disperse sugary liquid solution to help clear the air of microscopic particles.
It is not clear how effective that will be given the scale of the smog cloaking the city.
Mr Aswin said City Hall may soon issue a warning against exercising in parks. - AFP
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now