Two additional helicopters sent to fight forest fires in Thailand

Two helicopters from the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Thailand have been deployed to battle forest fires that have been ongoing for four days in Ob Luang National Park in Chiang Mai.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, had already sent helicopters to fight the fires. However, efforts have been unsuccessful, with blazes still raging on high mountains, which the approximately 400 firefighters on foot cannot access.

As a consequence, the PM2.5 dust in the area has exceeded the standard safety level, which ranges from 32 to 182 microns, reported the Pollution Control Department (PCD).

In the Chiang Mai province, PM2.5 dust in some areas has reach 182 microns, with other provinces in the north and northeast of the country recording excessive PM2.5 dust. However, the rest of the country’s air quality is generally good and within the safety zone.