Chiang Mai is choking on smoke as toxic PM 2.5 dust blankets the entire city. Residents suffer from eye irritation and itchy rashes, with an 8-year-old girl experiencing nosebleeds.
On 26 Mar 2026 GMT+7, reports indicate that air pollution in Chiang Mai province has reached a critical level. Thick smoke from numerous wildfires covers the entire city, reducing visibility on the roads. PM 2.5 levels in nearly every district have soared far above safety standards.
The Climate Change Data Center at Chiang Mai University reported hourly PM 2.5 figures at 12:00 PM GMT+7, with a peak of over 860 micrograms per cubic meter at Ban Pang Maya, Ping Khong subdistrict, Chiang Dao district. In urban areas such as at Nakornping Hospital, the level was 256 micrograms per cubic meter. Many districts recorded PM 2.5 exceeding 150 micrograms per cubic meter. Today marks the highest pollution level since the start of this year's dust season.
The drastic rise in dust levels is impacting public health. Many residents have begun experiencing eye irritation and itchy rashes. Notably, an 8-year-old girl living in Chiang Mai city suffered heavy nosebleeds. Her guardians believe the cause is the high PM 2.5 dust, recalling a similar episode last year when pollution levels similarly spiked.