Lower Thai South prevailed by haze from Indonesia

THAILAND, June 20 (TNA) - Several areas in the Lower Thai South, including those in Hat Yai of Songkhla province, have remained blanket by haze from forest fires on Sumatra Island in neighbouring Indonesia, reducing visibility in the affected zones. In Songkhla alone, apart from pan-like Hat Yai, Klong Hoy Kong district has also been prevailed by the smog, but locals have continued their normal ways of life and no health problems have been reported from the mild, but widespread, haze so far. Having closely monitored the situation, Thailand's Southern Meteorological Centre (East Coast) in Songkhla said that hot spots on Sumatra Island had increased to 310 on Tuesday, from 163 a day before. The Pollution Control Department's Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau under the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported that the Indonesian haze has been partly blown over to neighbouring Malaysia and the Lower Thai South affecting Phuket, Songkhla, Satul, Yala, and Narathivas provinces, but recent inspections by air quality monitoring stations in Songkhla, Yala and Narathivas showed that air quality in the areas had remained uncritical with no serious impact on local people's health. Songkhla public health office has, however, warned locals of risk groups, including children, the elderly and allergic patients, to avoid their outdoor activities until the situation returns to normal. (TNA)