{
  "id": 18585179,
  "title": "Super El Niño effect could worsen PM2.5 next year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/super-el-nino-effect-could-worsen-pm2-5-next-year",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T22:26:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Bangkok Post",
    "slug": "bangkok-post",
    "url": "https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3350229/super-el-ni%C3%B1o-effect-could-worsen-pm25-next-year"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ministry of Public Health has issued a warning that a Super El Niño could exacerbate Thailand's PM2.5 air pollution next year, particularly in 40 high-risk provinces, including Bangkok. Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr Sarawut Boonsuk stated that the potential development of a Super El Niño, resulting in prolonged drought conditions, indicates a potential increase in PM2.5 pollution compared to previous years. Vigilance will be crucial from now until May, with the aim of safeguarding approximately 16 million vulnerable individuals throughout the nation. Priority groups consist of those with respiratory diseases, allergies, heart disease and cardiovascular conditions, young children, pregnant women and older adults. To address the issue, the ministry will launch the Safe Zone application, enabling the public to locate dust-free rooms and pollution clinics in real-time, as well as map vulnerable groups at risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Pollution clinics will offer on-site and online consultation through telemedicine, allowing people to receive health assessments without traveling. The ministry will collaborate with local budgets, provincial governors, Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Offices, local administrative organizations and the National Health Security Office's local health security funds to minimize overlapping expenditures and ensure optimal use of available resources. In Bangkok, the city will restrict the entry of vehicles that fail to pass the Green List during the haze season, which will extend from now until March. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will prohibit four-wheeled trucks that have not met the specified criteria.",
  "summary": "The Ministry of Public Health has warned that the \"Super El Niño\" phenomenon could worsen Thailand's PM2.5 air pollution situation next year, especially in 40 high-risk provinces, including Bangkok.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}