Bangkok stood as the only city blanketed by red-coded (seriously hazardous) levels of fine dust pollution among 63 provinces battling thick smog late Thursday morning, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda).
The state space agency reported at 10am that the level of particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter (PM2.5) in the capital measured at 77.5 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air over the past 24 hours.
The government-set safe threshold is 37.5µg/m³, with red levels indicating a serious health hazard at 75.2µg/m³ and above.
Orange (initially unsafe) levels of PM2.5 were detected in 62 other provinces. Readings ranged from 38.4 to 72.6µg/m³. Most of the provinces were in the Central Plains and the Northeast.
Previously shrouded with red-coded levels, the northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son saw a shift to orange on Thursday morning, ranging from 41 to 44µg/m³.
Only the South reported safe levels of PM2.5.
Bangkok and 62 other provinces have been cloaked with high concentrations of fine dust pollution on Thursday. (Screenshot from IQAir)