Chiang Mai has declared three additional districts disaster areas as runaway forest fires continue to burn across the northern province, worsening smoke haze and raising concerns over public health.
The newly designated districts are Chom Thong (tambons Mae Soi, Ban Pae and Ban Luang), Hang Dong (tambons Nam Phrae and Ban Pong) and Galyani Vadhana (tambons Chaem Luang, Ban Chan and Mae Daet), according to an announcement issued on Wednesday by Chiang Mai deputy governor Siwakorn Buapong.
The latest additions bring the total number of districts declared wildfire disaster zones to nine out of 25 districts, following earlier emergency declarations in Hot, Samoeng, Chiang Dao, Doi Saket, Mae Taeng and Mae Wang, which covered 38 tambons, 324 villages and 27 communities.
With little sign of easing, provincial authorities reported 61 hotspots across 13 districts on Wednesday morning, indicating ongoing flare‑ups despite containment efforts.
The declaration enables local administrative organisations and relevant state agencies to immediately mobilise budgets, personnel and equipment to suppress fires and provide emergency assistance to affected residents under existing regulations.
Defence Minister Lt Gen Adul Boonthamcharoen and senior officials arrived in Chiang Mai on Wednesday afternoon to follow up on wildfire suppression and haze mitigation efforts at the Royal Thai Air Force’s Wing 41.
Flights continue despite reduced visibility
Despite the haze blanketing Chiang Mai and much of the upper North, aviation operations remained unaffected on Wednesday.
Surachai Nuprom, executive vice president of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai), said reduced visibility caused by PM2.5 (fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns) pollution remained within safe operating limits.
He said minimum visibility at Chiang Mai airport fell to 1,200 metres, with an average of 6–7 kilometres throughout the day, still above the 800-metre minimum required for landings under a Category 1 Instrument Landing System (ILS).
