The air quality in southern provinces of Thailand has improved and is now well within the limit set for public safety standards, the Pollution Control Department said on Friday.
As of Friday, particulate matter in provinces of Surat Thani, Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Phuket is between 52 and 100 micrograms per cubic meter of air, according to the department's report.
In Phuket, the level has sharply decreased to 72 micrograms per cubic meter, the department said. The limit for public safety standards is at 120 micrograms per cubic meter.
Over the past few days, the southern part of Thailand has suffered from haze reportedly generated by smoke from Indonesian forest fires, which have resulted in diverted or delayed flights and hurt local tourism.
Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has discussed with the Indonesian side about the alleviation of the situation. Cooperation will also be sought from other haze-affected neighbors such as Malaysia, Thai authorities said.
