The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior has issued an urgent order to the governors of 17 northern provinces to implement four measures to intensify efforts to reduce the impact of the PM 2.5 situation seriously and continuously until conditions return to normal.
On 31 Mar 2026 at 00:05, Mr. Assisit Sampanrat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and Deputy Commander of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command, revealed that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as Commander of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command, is deeply concerned about the nationwide high levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), especially in 17 northern provinces: Kamphaeng Phet, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Phrae, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Lamphun, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, and Uthai Thani. Many of these provinces have PM levels exceeding standards and at levels harmful to public health.
"To effectively address forest fires, haze, and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in the area, the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command (NDPMC) has ordered provincial incident command centers to elevate operations according to four key measures to reduce the impact of PM 2.5 seriously and continuously until the situation normalizes: 1. Closely monitor the situation by integrating efforts with all sectors to alleviate the public's hardships in every aspect; 2. Strictly enforce laws if hotspots caused by individuals are detected; 3. Mobilize all personnel and equipment to suppress forest fires to mitigate severity and restore normal conditions swiftly; and 4. Coordinate operations with related agencies at central and regional levels by mobilizing all resources, and if beyond provincial capacity, promptly request support from the NDPMC."
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior added that provincial incident command centers must continuously report the situation and mitigation efforts to the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command through the Central Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Operations Center until the situation normalizes. Meanwhile, the public who observe forest fires can report incidents via the 24-hour safety hotline 1784, where staff are on standby to respond immediately.