SONGKHLA: Smoke haze from annual forest burning in Indonesia continues to make the air unhealthy in Hat Yai district, with Yala province also reporting fine dust levels above the safety level.
The Pollution Control Department on Thursday reported the PM2.5 level in Hat Yai at 70 microgrammes per cubic metre of air, the highest of the nine southern provinces being closely monitored by the agency.
The level in Muang district in Yala also exceeded the 50 safety mark for the first time, at 58, while Betong district was at 48.
The air quality was measured at 9am on Thursday.
Hat Yai endures the worst air quality in the southern region, wih simply breathing posing a health problem since the beginning of this month.
In Yala, the Nakhon Yala Municipality warned residents of the fine-dust levels, as many people started wearing face masks on Thursday.
Provincial public health chief Dr Songkran Maichum advised people to avoid lengthy outdoor exercise and those working outside buildings to wear masks.