Forest fires worsen pollution

Burning through: Fire and smoke rising from a forest fire at Nakhon Nayok province northeast of Bangkok. — AP

Raging forest fires in northern Thailand are threatening to worsen the country’s air pollution, which has sent nearly two million people to hospitals with respiratory illnesses since the beginning of the year.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered urgent steps to put out forest fires in Nakhon Nayok province in the east of capital Bangkok and those in the country’s northern region including popular tourist destination Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachasri.