ASIA PACIFIC

Blood clots and burning eyes as pollution chokes north Thailand

The city of Chiang Mai has regularly topped the IQAir monitor website's most polluted big cities list this week, with the situation even worse in the backpacker destination of Pai.

By The Japan Times

• April 03, 2026 at 8:15 AM

Blood clots and burning eyes as pollution chokes north Thailand Photo: The Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC
/ Science & Health
A heavily polluted day in Pai, Thailand, on Wednesday
Seasonal agricultural burning, forest fires and weather patterns produce an annual pollution season across much of Southeast Asia, but parts of northern Thailand are seeing haze that even hardened locals say is exceptional
By Chayanit ITTHIPONGMAETEE
AFP-JIJI
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