BANGKOK, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Smog from neighboring Indonesia blankets southern provinces of Thailand, causing health hazard to the residents, the Thai media reported on Monday.
Thai TV images showed the city of Hat Yai in Songkhla province covered with smog, quoting that the thick smoke was caused by burning of farmlands and forests in Indonesia as southwest monsoon wind continued.
Residents in Hat Yai were warned of higher level of (Particulate Matter) PM2.5 exceeding safety level of 50 micrograms per cubic meter for two days, local media said.
It also said authorities predicted the situation would worsen as burning was uncontrolled during this southwest monsoon period.
With its location in a basin, Hat Yai's smog situation is worse than other areas due to low air circulation.
Children, the elderly people, pregnant women and those with respiratory were advised to avoid outdoor exposure and health problems such as coughing, breathing difficulties and eye irritation.
The transboundary haze also hit other provinces including Trang and Satun with smog blanketing urban areas as weather officials reported more hot spots on Sumatra Island, local media reported.
