Bangkok authorities have closed 352 schools across 31 districts due to worsening air pollution in the Thai capital, affecting thousands of students.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration made this announcement on Friday, as the city was ranked the world’s seventh-most polluted major city by IQAir, an air quality monitoring organization.
“Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has closed 352 schools across 31 districts due to air pollution,” the administration stated via its official line communication channel.
The decision marks the most significant school closure since 2020, with Friday’s closure affecting 352 of the 437 schools under the city authority. This followed Thursday’s closure of over 250 schools.
Air pollution in Thailand is a seasonal problem, often caused by stagnant winter air combining with smoke from crop burning and car emissions.
On Friday, the level of PM2.5 pollutants—microscopic particles small enough to enter the bloodstream—reached 108 micrograms per cubic metre, according to IQAir.
This level far exceeds the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum of 15 micrograms for 24-hour average exposure.
The Thai government is taking measures to address the situation. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has banned stubble burning, a farming practice of burning leftover crops to clear fields, warning that offenders will face legal action.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, speaking from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, emphasized the need for stricter measures to combat pollution. “We must consider limiting construction in Bangkok and seek cooperation from neighboring countries,” she said.
In addition to Bangkok, air pollution has impacted other cities in Southeast Asia. On Friday, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh were ranked second and fifth, respectively, among the world’s most polluted cities by IQAir.
However, Cambodia’s Environment Ministry spokesman Khvay Atitya said their air quality remains within safe limits. “Other countries have their own standards. Cambodia has our own standard to determine the air quality,” he stated, adding that no emergency measures had been issued.
With schools closed and measures being implemented, authorities are urging Bangkok residents to stay indoors, use masks, and work from home where possible as the city battles the persistent haze.
