Many people in and around Bangkok noticed a burning smell late Wednesday night, as the city was covered in haze, and the level of PM2.5 exceeded 37.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 47 of the capital’s 50 districts.
According to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), the three districts most impacted by PM2.5 dust were Don Mueang (143.5µg/m³), Lak Si (143µg/m³), and Bang Sue (139µg/m³).
The hashtag “Smell of something burning” was trending top on “X” late last night.
Pornphrom Vikitsreth, an advisor to the Governor of Bangkok, suggested three possible explanations for the unusually thick smog.
One possibility is that the wind last night was unusually blowing onshore from the Gulf of Thailand, and many hotspots were discovered around Bangkok.
The second possibility is that a summer storm, combined with a high-pressure cell from the northeastern region, led to a greater accumulation of pollutants in the atmosphere.
The third possibility is increased moisture in the atmosphere, resulting in a larger accumulation of PM2.5 in the air.
Last night, Thai PBS reporters investigated several locations in Bangkok and observed thick smog in front of Kasetsart University.
An assistant at a petrol station on Vibhavadi Rangsit Highway mentioned smelling burning around 9pm before seeing “thick smoke.”
PM2.5 levels exceeded the safe threshold in seven central provinces last night, including Nonthaburi (113.4µg/m³) and Pathum Thani (107.6µg/m³).
According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Air Quality Information Centre, excessive PM2.5 was reported this morning in various areas of Bangkok, with Lat Krabang (57.5µg/m³) being the most affected.
