Indonesian smog forces suspension of Song Khla's sea operations

SONG KHLA, THAILAND, July 2 (TNA) - Smog from wildfires on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island still blanketed offshore areas of Thailand's lower southern provinces Monday, interrupting local sea operations, particularly in Song Khla province, where local fishing vessels were forced to temporarily stop operating. More than 100 fishing vessels were forced return to shore Monday due to poor visibility caused by the new wave of thick smog. They will remain onshore for the next 1-2 days, when the smog is expected to start fading away. However, officials said that temporary suspension of sea operations will not affect local supply of sea products. Meanwhile, hot spots on Sumatra Island decreased to 107 on Monday, from 202 on Sunday but the prevailing southwest monsoon wind over the Andaman Sea, Thai gulf and southern Thailand still appeared to have brought the smog from Sumatra Island in Indonesia to several lower southern Thai provinces. The dust a particle was recorded at less than 10 micron during the last 24 hours and has not harmed residents’ overall living condition. (TNA)