BANGKOK — In a bid to combat the alarming levels of air pollution in Bangkok, Thai officials have introduced a week of free public transportation, starting Saturday. This initiative comes as part of broader efforts to address the environmental crisis that has led to the closure of numerous schools and has forced many workers to stay home.

The temporary measure allows commuters to use buses, as well as the elevated and underground train systems within the city, at no cost. The government hopes that by making public transport free, they can significantly decrease the number of private vehicles on the road, which is one of the major contributors to the pollution problem.

On Friday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took to social media to express her deep concern over the ongoing issue. She emphasized that her administration is dedicated to implementing both immediate and long-term strategies to mitigate the impact of air pollution in the country.

Thailand has faced air quality challenges for years, particularly in its northern regions, where forest burning and agricultural practices contribute significantly to the pollution levels. However, Bangkok is increasingly experiencing prolonged episodes of poor air quality, especially during the cooler months of the year.

These fine particulate matters pose serious health risks, as they are small enough to bypass respiratory defenses and enter the lungs, leading to both acute and chronic health problems. Among the major culprits contributing to air quality degradation are emissions from vehicles and factories, alongside dust generated from construction activities.

According to the Swiss-based air quality monitoring organization IQAir, Bangkok was recently listed as the 14th most polluted city globally, marked with pollution levels deemed borderline unhealthy for the general population. Earlier in the week, the city had ranked even higher among the top ten most polluted cities worldwide.