31 January
Toxic smog has forced authorities in Bangkok to close the city's public schools.
The governor of Bangkok announced that all 437 public schools and kindergartens will be shut from Wednesday afternoon through Friday.
Bangkok has seen dangerous levels of a hazardous airborne particle called PM 2.5 in recent weeks.
The Pollution Control Department says the amount detected throughout the city on Wednesday far exceeded the level deemed safe by the World Health Organization.
Dry weather and fumes from cars and factories are believed to be making things worse.
Authorities are seeding clouds to force rain and spraying the ground to wash away pollutants. But the governor says he expects current conditions to last until early next month.
Students' mother said; "My child has never been sick before, but is coughing all the time now. I'm worried."
NHK
