A foreign man has died while on a visit to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s tallest mountain, in the northern province of Chiang Mai. It’s understood the man, whose name and nationality have not been released, lost consciousness in the Doi Inthanon car park after travelling there with a tour group on Sunday.
The tourist was discovered at around 1.00pm and efforts were made to resuscitate him but rescuers did not succeed. The man’s body has been sent to Chiang Mai’s Chom Thong Hospital where an autopsy will be carried out.
According to a Coconuts report, officials are attributing his death to underlying health conditions. However, other sources point to Chiang Mai’s severe pollution problem, with dangerous air quality currently accompanied by high temperatures. On Sunday, the northern province had the dubious accolade of having the worst air pollution in the world, with the situation only made worse by the high heat and humidity.
Residents in Chiang Mai are being urged to refrain from outdoor activities and to use an air purifier at home, particularly where there are children, elderly people, and people with underlying health conditions.
Fine PM2.5 particles are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and causing irritation to the lungs, as well as to the eyes, nose, and throat. Other symptoms include coughing, sneezing, a runny nose, and shortness of breath, according to the Coconuts report.
Yesterday, air pollution in Chiang Mai remained at unhealthy levels, while in Bangkok, the level was considered unhealthy for those in so-called vulnerable groups.
SOURCE: Coconuts
