BANGKOK, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Thai TV on Thursday showed images of smoke hovering over Thailand's southern province of Songkhla.
The Songkhla provincial office quoted on local media said that the amount of PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) stayed around 12-55 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg) in the past 24 hours on average.
The haze from forest fires in Sumatra, Indonesia has blanketed parts of Songkhla and visibility in Hat Yai district has dropped to 300 meters, local media said.
The southwest monsoon wind has carried polluted air from Sumatra, where more hotspots were detected. The PM2.5 level in Songkhla's Hat Yai district was 55 mcg, exceeding the safety standard at 50 mcg, local media added.
It is also said that the air quality started to pose a health threat to local residents. In Satun, Pattani and Yala, the average air particulate readings were 47, 42 and 48 mcg respectively, up from Wednesday.
The authorities have been closely monitored the situation, local media said.
