Yotchanan deploys Thai tech to combat El Nino and PM2.5

Matichon•Politics•17m ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Prime Minister Yotchanan Wongswasdi chaired a meeting to implement nine proactive measures and deploy Thai-developed innovation to combat forest fires and PM2.5 in Northern Thailand.

•Yotchanan Wongswasdi chaired the 1/2026 meeting of the Committee for the Prevention and Resolution of Disaster Problems in the Northern Region on November 13.
•Thai-developed long-range heat detection cameras and drones from the National Astronomical Research Institute (NARIT) will be used for real-time forest fire monitoring.
•The meeting established nine strict directives to handle the impacts of the Super El Nino phenomenon, including drought and PM2.5 dust.
•The critical period for forest fires and PM2.5 in the North is expected from late January to March.

Overview

•Yotchanan Wongswasdi chaired the first meeting of the Committee for the Prevention and Resolution of Disaster Problems in the Northern Region on November 13.
•Academic discussions indicate the Super El Nino phenomenon next year will cause severe drought, leading to more intense smoke and dust problems in the North than previous years.
•Yotchanan Wongswasdi announced the installation of 50-60 additional long-range heat detection cameras, adding to the existing 40-50 units, to monitor mountain areas.
•Yotchanan Wongswasdi will deploy Thai-developed drones to survey water transport routes and support firefighting in hard-to-reach areas.
•The agricultural sector will focus on converting burning into value by selling agricultural waste, while the forestry sector will monitor 14 risk forest groups via the Fire-D system.
•The Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and the Ministry of Education will prepare dust-free rooms for vulnerable groups.
•Yotchanan Wongswasdi emphasized that PM2.5 and PM0.1 dust affects not only the North but also extends to Bangkok.
•All agencies must strictly follow nine directives, including improving early warning systems and using Atmospheric LiDAR for air quality monitoring.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Yotchanan Wongswasdi

"The issue of PM 2.5 and small PM 0.1 dust is a delicate matter that greatly affects people's lives."

เรื่องฝุ่น PM 2.5 และฝุ่นขนาดเล็ก PM 0.1 เป็นเรื่องที่ละเอียดอ่อนและส่งผลกระทบต่อชีวิตของผู้คนอย่างมาก

Key Entities

Person

Yotchanan Wongswasdi(ยศชนัน วงศ์สวัสดิ์)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation who chaired the disaster prevention meeting for the Northern region.

Jeseth Thaiseth(เจเศรษฐ์ ไทยเศรษฐ์)

Deputy Minister of Interior who attended the disaster prevention meeting.

Nirat Pongsittithaworn(นิรัตน์ พงษ์สิทธิถาวร)

Director General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Organization

Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation(กรมป้องกันและบรรเทาสาธารณภัย)

The agency where the committee meeting was held.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)

A government ministry involved in the disaster prevention meeting.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

A government ministry involved in the disaster prevention meeting.

Ministry of Public Health(กระทรวงสาธารณสุข)

A government ministry tasked with preparing dust-free rooms and monitoring dust-related diseases.

Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation(กระทรวงการอุดมศึกษา วิทยาศาสตร์ วิจัยและนวัตกรรม)ℹ️

A government ministry involved in preparing dust-free rooms and the disaster prevention meeting.

Thai Meteorological Department(กรมอุตุนิยมวิทยา)ℹ️

A government agency involved in the disaster prevention meeting.

National Astronomical Research Institute(สถาบันวิจัยดาราศาสตร์แห่งชาติ (องค์การมหาชน))

The agency providing research and innovation in the form of heat detection cameras and drones for forest fire monitoring.

Ministry of Education(กระทรวงศึกษาธิการ)ℹ️

A government ministry involved in preparing dust-free rooms for vulnerable groups.

Office of the National Water Resources(สำนักงานทรัพยากรน้ำแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

The agency coordinating the provision of water sources for the situation.

Royal Forest Department(กรมป่าไม้)ℹ️

The agency preparing firefighting skills training for volunteers and villagers.

Place

Northern Thailand(ภาคเหนือ)ℹ️

The region facing severe forest fires, drought, and PM2.5 pollution.

Bangkok(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The city affected by PM2.5 dust drifting from the North.

Policy

Fire-D

The registration system for fuel management in forest areas.