Bangkok is stepping up efforts to clear the city’s air pollution that has reached dangerous levels, according to health officials.
Authorities have been handing out protective masks in a city that has been blanketed by smog since Saturday. Many shops have run out of masks because of high demand.
Measures to combat the pollution problem include the use of cannon to blast water into the air to reduce fine dust particles, and to strictly check car emissions and construction sites for dust control.
The Department of Pollution Control says diesel fumes from cars contribute 50-60% of the pollution while burning rubbish and crops contributed about 35%.
The Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation Department says it is ready to encourage rain by cloud seeding once the weather is suitable
Bangkok is placed Number 9 in the world’s top 10 cities with the worst air quality. On top of the US-compiled air quality index is New Delhi, followed by Dhaka in Bangladesh and Kolkata in India.