Citing statistics from the Air Quality and Noise Management Division, the Centre said in many areas of Bangkok dust particulate matter not more than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) exceeded the PCD’s pollution standard of 35 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).

Fifteen districts have been reported as having unhealthy air: Wangthonglang, Bang Kho Laem, Yannawa, Chatuchak, Bang Kapi, Lat Krabang, Khlong San, Bang Khen, Khlong Toei, Bang Sue, Lak Si, Bueng Kum, Khlong Sam Wa, Saimai and Don Muang.

Meanwhile, the application air4thai reported that PM2.5 level in Bangkok was at 21-63 µg/m3 on Wednesday, stating that the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children, who should limit prolonged exertion.

The World Health Organisation prescribes PM2.5 levels at 25mcg per cubic metre in a 24-hour mean.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesaengsoon has said that the BMA has been monitoring the PM2.5 situation closely and has assigned all 50 districts to increase the frequency of cleaning the roads and pavements to reduce accumulated dust.

“Areas that have high levels of PM2.5 were advised to use water trucks to spray water in the air, which should help in trapping the dust particles,” she said. “Moreover, service vehicles of the BMA must be properly maintained and have their emission levels checked regularly, while drivers were told to turn off the engine when the vehicles were not in use or while parking.”

“People can check the air quality reports via several channels provided by BMA, including the website www.bangkokairquality.com and www.airqangkok.com, or via the application BKK Connect, which updates three times a day — at 7am, noon and 3pm,” she added. “Furthermore, the BMA is developing a new application called ‘AirBKK’ dedicated to monitoring air quality specifically in the areas where there are no air-quality measurement stations.”

One of the measures will involve using four fire trucks, each with a capacity of 9,000 litres, to spray water around the airport and runway areas four times a day, using 144,000 litres of water per day on average.

According to an airport officer, the trucks will be deployed at 10am, 11am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm at the duty-free zone and along the Suvarnabhumi 2 Road (inbound), as these areas have high numbers of trucks and other vehicles passing through during weekdays.

Other anti-PM2.5 measures include random checks of airport vehicles and ground service equipment in the airside areas to make sure their emission rate of smoke is lower than 30 per cent. “Vehicles and equipments that have a higher emission rate than the standard will be temporarily decommissioned and will be later fixed or replaced,” one of the airport staff added.

Furthermore, the airport has enforced pollution control regulations on all public vehicles running in the airport areas, which include taxis, shuttle buses, public buses, public vans and coaches. These vehicles were told to turn off the engine while waiting for passengers and make sure to have their vehicle condition checked regularly.

The plains of the North and the Northeast will be cool to cold in the morning with minimum temperatures in the range of 13-22 degrees Celsius. The easterly winds and the southeasterly prevailing over the Central, the East, the South and the lower Gulf of Thailand will bring thundershowers to the lower South.

Dust situation

In the North, the Central region including Bangkok and its vicinity, light winds blowing around the area with isolated light rain will bring an accumulation of dust.

The Department has made the following weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

Northern region: Cool to cold with fog in the morning, temperature lows of 13-22°C and highs of 31-36°C. The temperature is likely to drop to 4-11°C on hilltops with frost in some areas.

Northeastern region: Partly cloudy and cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 17-22°C and highs of 31-34°C. The temperature is like to drop to 12-15 degrees on hilltops.

Central region: Cold with fog in the morning and thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-23°C, highs of 34-36°C.

Eastern region: Partly cloudy with fog in the morning and thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 21-25°C, highs of 33-35°C; waves lower than a metre high.

Southern region (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-24°C, highs of 31-34°C; waves a metre high.

Southern region (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-26°C, highs of 34-35°C; waves a metre high.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Fog in the morning with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; lows of 24-26°C, highs of 33-35°C.

One of FWP members posted the message on the party’s Facebook page after the court ruled as insufficient evidence that the party was plotting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, in a bid to have the party dissolved.

Thanathorn and party members expressed their gratitude to their supporters, vowing to turn their promises into reality. He and FWP’s members of parliament will continue monitoring the government to gain public trust in the party, Thanathorn said.

“We will continue on a campaign to change many legislation acts, such as cancellation of the 17 National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) announcements and orders, Labour Protection Act, Military Service Act, and Liquor Act,” Thanathorn said.

“At the same time, we will continue working with people in every region to fully solve their problems, as well as running a campaign for them to understand the importance of the constitution amendment, which is the only way to solve the problems in Thailand.

He added that the Future Forward Party is only the beginning of the people’s journey.

“After establishment of the party about two years ago, there are still many issues left to be solved. We will do our utmost to make those things come true, so let us be the representatives of all people who want Thailand to move forward”.

Meanwhile, many are speculating if the Future Forward Party might be dissolved in another case involving a Bt191-million loan Thanathorn extended to his party.

The SET closed at 1,574.94 today (January 21) – a decrease of 14.17 points, or 0.89 per cent, compared to the previous day.

The day’s trade volume was Bt76.61 billion, with an index high of 1,587.85 and a low of 1,573.26.

Krungsri Securities stock analysts predicted the SET Index would decrease due to investors delaying trading to watch for performance results of remaining banks in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Constitutional Court’s verdict on the Future Forward Party, which would affect the political situation, the coronary virus outbreak in China, and severe PM2.5 dust pollution in Bangkok, which could affect tourism.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 23,864.56, down 218.95 points, or 0.91 per cent; China’s Shanghai SE Composite Index ended the day at 3,052.14, down 43.65 points, or 1.41 per cent; Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed at 27,985.33, down 810.58 points, or 2.81 per cent; South Korea’s Kospi ended at 2,239.69, down 22.95 points, or 1.01 per cent.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced 437 government schools would close on Wednesday, January 22, to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and the impact on the health of children and young people after the Thai Meteorological Department said any closure for 1-2 days could help tackle the bad air quality.

Four urgent measures have been issued, which are:

1. All Bangkok-affiliated agencies should postpone working hours to 10am-6pm to reduce traffic congestion. This measure will be effective until the air pollution crisis is resolved. Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang insisted the public would not be affected by the time change.

2. Some 437 government schools in the city will be closed for a day – January 22.

3. Masks will be handed out to people. People can immediately pick up these masks at any of the capital’s 68 public health centres, bus stations or Skytrain stations.

4. The public are urged to protect themselves by wearing masks when leaving buildings to go outside.

BMA officials will also coordinate with government schools to open extra classes on the weekend or on other days, depending on the situation.

The Rajaprajanugroh Foundation Under Royal Patronage has provided four wet scrubber prototypes to deal with PM2.5 airborne dust particles for installation in highly polluted areas, Pollution Control Department director-general Pralong Dumrongthai said.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will be responsible for locating and maintaining the devices.

Pralong said four areas with high dust values are Din Daeng, near Vibhavadi Forest Park Road, an area with heavy traffic; the Victory Monument area, where two prototypes could be used as there are hospitals and heavy traffic; and Lumpini Park, where people exercise.

The wet scrubber prototypes can absorb two cubic metres of air per second, or 172,000 cubic metres per day. On average, they can absorb 150,000 cubic metres per day. Each device, costing Bt300,000 and built by Thai technicians, can effectively handle an area of about 50,000 square metres. The know-how will be distributed to the public, so more of the machines can be built to tackle PM2.5 dust pollution.

A naked male body, described as “turning black and bony” and aged between 30 – 40 years old, was found lying on the ground. There was no evidence that could help police identify the deceased.

Songkran Booddeekam, owner of the sugarcane farm, said he detected a foul smell while harvesting sugarcane and decided to search the area. He then came across what looked like a corpse before calling the police.

Police said the cause of death has yet to be established since the body has been decomposing for at least two weeks, leaving little to work on. The body was sent to Thung Fon Hospital while police began an investigation.