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April 24, 2026 -
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Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, U Hsan Oo, stated that air pollution is one of the greatest environmental threats to health, emphasizing the need for locals and relevant departments to collaborate on reducing “Fire Hotspots” – the primary cause of haze and air pollution – during a meeting with staff in Nay Pyi Taw on 23 April.
According to data from IQ Air, Yangon’s air pollution reached the Red Level on the morning of 27 March, with an index of 175, ranking it the second most polluted city in the world. By that afternoon, Yangon’s air quality ranking had dropped to 11th by 1:00 pm.
Similar Red Level conditions were recorded throughout January and February in Yangon. It is attributed to excessive levels of smoke, gases, dust, haze, odours, and water vapour.
According to World Health Organization standards, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is categorized as follows: 0-50: Good; 51-100: Moderate; 101-150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups; 151-200: Unhealthy; 201-300: and Very Unhealthy; 301+: Hazardous.
Physicians advise Yangon residents to avoid spending a long time outdoors without protection, recommending wearing N95 or KN95 masks and drinking water regularly. — Htun Htun/ZN
