Thailand: ASEAN help needed on haze -- Thai PM

The Nation AsiaOne 6 Oct 15;

THAILAND will be pushing for ASEAN-level efforts to rein in haze that comes from smoke-belching fires in neighbouring countries.

"I have already instructed the Foreign Affairs Ministry to raise the issue with source countries," Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday, as people in Thailand's lower South struggle with the impact from Indonesian hotspots. Fires in eastern Myanmar also regularly affect air quality in Thailand's North.

Prayut addressed the smog issue a few days after the Malaysian premier urged Indonesia to act against the people and companies responsible for raging fires, mainly in Sumatra.

Smoke originating from Indonesian burn-offs has blanketed Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand, causing health problems for people in those areas, plus difficulties for businesses.

About 50 Thais turned up at the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla yesterday to officially complain about the haze.

The Pollution Control Department's air pollution index showed the haze yesterday was the worst since 1999. As of yesterday, the amount of Particulate Matter up to 10 micrometers in size (PM10) exceeded safe limits in Songkhla, Phuket and Satun provinces.

"This is the first time we've come forward because we are afraid that if we just stay silent, the problem will just get worse and worse," Supawan Chanasongkhram said yesterday on behalf of the demonstrators.

She said governments of relevant countries needed to explore solutions together.

Supawan said she had now had difficulty breathing and had heard that people with underlying illnesses had even graver symptoms.

Her group wanted the Indonesian government to tackle the smog problem more seriously.

In the southern province of Yala, a local hospital reported that as many as 214 patients sought medical help for symptoms that could be related to smog on Sunday - a jump from 64 on Saturday.

Locals in Phuket, meanwhile, said they had already developed eye irritation, skin irritation, and headaches when exposed to smog.

In Trang province, about 400 fishing trawlers stayed ashore because reduced visibility made it impossible for them to head out to the sea.

"This has hurt our livelihood. We can't go out fishing for three days already," said Aren Phrakong, who chairs a local fishing group.

Trang Governor Dejrat Simsiri said motorists needed to be careful now given that smog reduced the visibility on roads.

Satun City municipal mayor Prasit Baesakul said relevant officials were now busy handing out free protective masks in a hope of protecting locals from smog impacts.

The province's disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief Chaowalit Nithornrat also advised people against consuming rainwater, saying it could be contaminated.

'Hurts region every year'

Ittirit Kinglek, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said all ASEAN member countries should have formal discussions on smog because this shared problem hurts the region every year. "As smog shrouds the Andaman provinces, such as Phuket, Satun, and Hat Yai, tourism feels the pinch. Smog usually hits

during high season too," he said.

Suchart Hirankanokkul, adviser to the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter), said the Prayut government should ask the Indonesian ambassador or embassy representative what emergency measures Indonesia will use to tackle the problem.

Both Ittirit and Suchart said hotel occupancy in major southern provinces, such as Phuket and Songkhla, had not yet despite the smog. "But if the problem continues, the situation may turn critical," Suchart said.

He said local hotels had occupancy of between 80 per cent and 90 per cent currently, with most tourists from Australia and China.

Hat Yai International Airport said yesterday it was closely monitoring the situation and had instructed pilots to strictly comply with guidelines given if visibility is low.

Smoke haze hazardous in three southern provinces
Bangkok Post 6 Oct 15;

Smoke haze from forest fires on Sumatra island, in Indonesia, covered seven southern provinces on Tuesday, with residents crowding hospitals and complaining of respiratory problems, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department stated.

Chatchai Phromlert, director-general of the department, said that haze blanketed Narathiwat, Pattani, Phuket, Satun, Songkhla, Surat Thani and Yala provinces.

The levels of particulate matter there ranged between 63 and 187 microgrammes per cubic metre of air measured in 24 hours, the Pollution Control Department reported Tuesday evening. The safe level is within 120 microgrammes per cu/m.

Smoke haze reached health hazardous levels in three of the provinces -- Phuket (146 microgrammes), Satun (187 microgrammes) and Songkhla (156 microgrammes).

The weather condition not only affected public health but also reduced visibility, especially on roads, Mr Chatchai said.

Local authorities were handing out face masks and people were seeking treatment for breathing problems at local hospitals.

In Yala, the number of patients reporting respiratory problems at Yala Hospital rose to 214 cases on Monday, up from 64 on Sunday.


Haze: People In Southern Thailand Send Letter Of Complaint To Indonesia
Bernama 6 Oct 15;

SONGKHLA, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The people of Songkhla who were affected by the choking haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia today sent a letter of complaint to Indonesia.

Over 20 people representing private development body on the name of 'Hatyai-Songkhla Residents Affected by Haze from Indonesia' handed over the letter to Wanney Fabiomata, the Community and Culture Division Consul at the Indonesian Consulate here.

The letter, among others, stated that the haze had started to take its toll on public health.

"People, including children and senior citizens, are starting to have breathing problems and allergies and can only wonder when this whole haze issue will be solved.

"As such, we are begging you to communicate with your government to take the responsibility and give its commitment to solve the issue. Only the Indonesian government knows the causes and solutions to the issue," the letter said.

The Air Pollutant Index readings in seven southern districts of Thailand as at 9 am today were 210 in Satun (dangerous to health), Songkhla 163 (dangerous to health), Phuket 136 (dangerous to health), Pattani 102 (moderate), Yala 97 (moderate), Narathiwat 72 (moderate) and Surat Thani 59 (moderate).

-- BERNAMA