Indonesian wildfire haze triggers severe air pollution in southern Thailand

wildfire haze PM2.5 transboundary pollution air quality alert Southeast Asia

Thick smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has drifted across the sea, causing dangerous air pollution levels in southern Thailand. The haze has heavily impacted Hat Yai in Songkhla province, where PM2.5 concentrations have spiked into the red warning zone.

Researchers at Prince of Songkla University reported that PM2.5 levels in Hat Yai reached between 72.7 µg/m³ and 89.0 µg/m³, significantly exceeding safe limits. The pollution is being driven by numerous hotspots detected on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, with seasonal winds carrying the smoke northward.

Health officials have issued urgent warnings for residents to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and wear N95 masks if they must go outside. Vulnerable populations, including those with asthma or allergies, are at increased risk of respiratory issues. The haze is part of a recurring seasonal pattern in Southeast Asia, where land-clearing fires in Indonesia affect air quality in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.