Air pollution in Bangkok has forced the closure of over 350 schools, city authorities announced on Friday. The Thai capital was ranked the world’s seventh-most polluted major city by air quality monitor IQAir.
Seasonal air pollution has long plagued Thailand, and this week’s hazy conditions have led to the shutdown of most schools since 2020. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration closed 352 schools across 31 districts due to high levels of PM2.5 pollutants, which exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended 24-hour average exposure limit.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a ban on stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution, with those responsible facing legal prosecution. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has called for tougher measures to tackle pollution, including limiting construction in the capital and seeking cooperation from nearby countries.
Bangkok’s air pollution woes are not isolated, as neighboring Vietnam and Cambodia’s biggest cities also ranked among the top 10 most-polluted major cities globally.
