The Thai island of Phuket, a hugely popular destination for sunseekers, awoke on Wednesday to find its beaches mired beneath a grey cloud. The hazardous smog that has submerged Southeast Asia for the past few weeks had finally shrouded the holiday isle.
It is highly unusual for the annual haze, caused by illegal forest fires in Indonesia, to reach Thailand (the last time is believed to be in 1997). But this might be one of the worst occurrences yet. Reduced visibility delayed flights onto the island, while the noxious pollutants advanced health concerns, according to the Bangkok Post.
These are not typical holiday conditions by any stretch, as you can see for yourself below:
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