Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s InteriorMinistry has ordered provincial authorities to immediately implement preventivemeasures against fine particulate matte(PM2.5) now the country has entered thehigh-pollution risk reason.

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Traisulee Taisaranakul on December 6 said Interior Minister AnutinCharnvirakul had ordered provincial governors and Disaster Prevention andMitigation offices across the country to impose PM2.5 pollution preventionmeasures.

The high-pollution risk season lasts during winter,especially in 17 northern provinces, Bangkok, and adjacent cities.

Traisulee stressed that agencies must strictly enforcethe law against activities which potentially cause poll🍸ution such as openburning, and some kinds of industrial work and construction.

Wildfires must be prevented, and provincial authorities arerequired to reach out to locals and promote alternative waste management toavoid open burning which can lead to wildfires, she said.

If a situation escalates, whether it is from a wildfire orhigh levels of PM2.5 poll🍸ution, provincial offices must announce real-timeupdates and provide warnings to locals.

Anutin also ordered proactive approaches towards locals inareas at risk of air pollution, including preventive measures and punishmentsfor those who violate the law. The ministry has requested local governments to provideadequate welfare and funding for firefighters. Pattharawalai Sirinara, a lecturer in theDepartment of Preventive and Social Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, saidareas with the highest number of lung cancer deaths are in the northern region andBangkok, where air pollution is often the worst in the country./.