BANGKOK:Due to severe air pollution, more than 350 schools in Bangkok were forced to close on Friday, marking the highest number of closures in five years, according to city officials. To help alleviate the situation, authorities have also announced free public transportation for a week to reduce traffic emissions in the already polluted city.
The ongoing seasonal air pollution in Thailand, worsened by winter’s stagnant air and agricultural stubble burning, has caused hazardous haze. This weekโs conditions have led to the most school closures since 2020. PM2.5 particles, which are small enough to enter the bloodstream and cause health risks, reached a level of 108 micrograms per cubic meter by Friday, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 15.
As of Friday morning, 352 out of 437 schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority had closed, impacting thousands of students. Additionally, measures like restrictions on heavy vehicles and a work-from-home suggestion have been implemented.
In response, the government has banned stubble burning, with violators facing legal consequences. Transport minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit also announced that Bangkokโs public transport services, including the Skytrain, metro, light rail, and buses, would be free for a week starting Saturday to reduce pollution levels.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is currently at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, has called for stricter measures, including limiting construction and increasing regional cooperation to combat pollution.
