Suchart expresses concern over wildfires in Tak Province, sends support to officials, pledges immediate reinforcements if the situation escalates, and emphasizes that the safety of residents and officials is the top priority. He calls for cooperation to stop open burning in all cases.
6 April 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, immediately emphasized upon receiving the situation report regarding wildfires, haze, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Tak Province, as of 5 April 2026, stating that the situation still requires close monitoring. He expressed concern and sent encouragement to all officials working with full effort on the ground. He affirmed that if the situation intensifies, the ministry is ready to deploy additional personnel and resources immediately.
According to accumulated data from 1 January to 4 April 2026, Tak Province recorded a total of 5,331 hotspots, with the highest number—1,054 hotspots—in Mae Ramat District, mostly occurring within protected forest areas.
Meanwhile, the latest data from the Suomi NPP satellite (VIIRS system) on 5 April 2026 showed 111 hotspots in the morning and 12 in the afternoon scattered across several districts: Sam Ngao, Tha Song Yang, Mae Sot, Phop Phra, and Umphang. Most of these are in protected and reserved forests with mountainous terrain, making access difficult and increasing the risk of large wildfires due to dry weather, temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius, and abundant fuel sources. However, the trend today shows some improvement with fewer hotspots, while the province continues close surveillance.
Regarding air quality, Tak Province has experienced 30 days with PM2.5 levels exceeding standards, with the past three days registering red levels before easing to orange on 5 April, reflecting some signs of improvement.
Proactively, Mr. Chusak Ruaying, Governor of Tak Province, closely monitored the situation from 3 to 5 April 2026 in Mae Ramat and Mueang Tak districts, focusing on listening to residents’ concerns to better tailor measures. He also visited and encouraged officials on duty and supported them with groundwater to facilitate their work.
Additionally, Tak Province has intensified proactive measures by increasing patrol frequency to monitor wildfires, rapidly deploying forces to extinguish flare-ups, integrating cooperation among government agencies, local administrative organizations, forest officials, and over 120 community networks. Military support comes from Naresuan Force and the 310th Military Circle to help control the situation. Daily planning meetings are held to assess the situation and allocate personnel and resources appropriately at each incident site.
. Minister Suchart reiterated that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment prioritizes the safety of residents and officials above all else and requests public cooperation to refrain from open burning under any circumstances to sustainably reduce wildfires and PM2.5 pollution. Meanwhile, Tak Province continues to mobilize full efforts to contain the situation and restore normal conditions swiftly. If additional support is necessary, the province will promptly coordinate with central authorities.