Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chiang Mai, the tourist capital of northern Thailand, has become one of the most polluted cities in the world, forcing visitors and residents to breathe very toxic air.
The city of many temples, covered this Friday March 15 in the morning with a thick fog of pollution, took the lead in the ranking of the most polluted cities in the world, according to the air quality monitoring company IQAir.
The level of PM2.5 - microparticles that can enter the blood and cause cancer - was described as "
very bad for health
", according to IQAir, and reached 35 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization. health (WHO).
“
It’s very high.
All I have is this mask which is the same one I used during Covid
,” Kamol, 62, an orange seller at a city market, told AFP.
Fields burned by farmers
Chiang Mai is frequently affected by high levels of pollution during the first months of the year, when farmers in surrounding areas and neighboring countries burn fields after harvest so they can replant quickly and cheaply.
Forest fires and exhaust fumes also aggravate the problem, which has only recently been recognized in the country.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin approved a clean air bill in January, in response to the increasingly serious consequences of this air pollution on the health of Thais.
In 2023, according to an official study, 10 million of them consulted a doctor in relation to respiratory problems.
Srettha is expected there on Friday and is expected to meet with wildfire organizations on Saturday.
But Chiang Mai residents - like Kamol, the orange seller, who sighs and shakes his head when asked - said they had received no help.
“
I have to have my health checked every year, especially for respiratory illnesses
,” he said.
“
Pollution is always high, especially at this time of year
,” said Sariya, 50, while shopping in Chiang Mai.
“
There is nothing we can do since pollution is still high.
»
Hotel nights canceled massively
With his face covered by a medical mask, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited the temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, on the heights of Chiang Mai, this Friday with his daughter.
LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA / AFP
Pointing out that the city was located in a basin, which didn't help, Sariya said he was "
especially worried
" about those with underlying health conditions.
Last year, soaring pollution levels deterred international tourists from visiting the city, leaving street vendors frustrated.
According to the local Hotel Association, Thais themselves had canceled their reservations en masse.
But on Friday, in Chiang Mai, the streets were filled with tourists strolling between monuments and seemingly unfazed by the smog.
“
I'm not afraid of pollution
,” says Andy, a 32-year-old Chinese tourist, who explains that his country also suffers from poor air quality.
“
I just enjoy the city because it is very beautiful.
» “
You just have to continue and enjoy your day
,” adds Guillaume, a French tourist visiting for 4 days.
ON VIDEO
- The capital of Thailand is no longer Bangkok: can you remember the city's new name?