In Thailand’s capital, over 350 schools were closed on Friday due to high levels of air pollution, making Bangkok the seventh-most polluted major city in the world according to IQAir. This seasonal issue has been a long-standing problem in Thailand and has caused most schools to remain shut since 2020.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced the closure of 352 schools across 31 districts because of the air pollution. This decision came after more than 250 schools were already closed on Thursday, with officials encouraging people to work from home and restricting heavy vehicles in the city.
Air pollution in Thailand is worsened by a combination of cold, stagnant winter air, crop stubble burning, and car emissions. The level of cancer-causing PM2.5 pollutants had reached 108 micrograms per cubic meter by Friday, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended daily average exposure of 15 micrograms.
The Bangkok authorities allowed schools in areas with high PM2.5 levels to decide on closure. By Friday morning, 352 out of 437 schools managed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority had been shut down, affecting numerous students. This closure was the most extensive since 2020 when all schools under city authority were closed due to air pollution.
Efforts to combat pollution include a ban on crop stubble burning ordered by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and calls from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for stricter measures, such as limiting construction and seeking cooperation from neighboring countries like Vietnam and Cambodia. Both Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh were also among the top 10 most-polluted major cities globally according to IQAir.
Despite this, Cambodia’s Environment Ministry stated that the country’s air quality remained within safe levels and no emergency measures had been issued.