Cao Tung Son, director of the Center for Environment and Natural Resources Monitoring, under the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment, speaks at a press conference on October 9

The HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment on October 9 held a press conference to report the air pollution situation in the city and projects to improve the environmental monitoring system.

The thick haze covering the city in recent weeks is a combination of a tropical convergence zone and a cold air front, which has resulted in cloudy skies and little sunshine, Son explained.

He added that alongside low temperatures and intermittent rains on a wide scale, high humidity and precipitation have contributed to the formation of the thick haze.

The phenomenon tends to occur in October but it came early this year. The Center for Environment and Natural Resources Monitoring could not predict this change, so it did not announce the phenomenon to locals earlier.

He added that the center will upgrade its equipment to update environmental monitoring results faster.

Son noted that the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment will continue to publicize environmental indicators, especially those on air quality, on electronic boards on certain main streets. The city will also accelerate the progress of projects to enhance the environmental monitoring ability, including nine fixed automatic air monitoring stations and one mobile station.

The department will mobilize more capital to invest in an additional 11 automatic air monitoring stations by 2030.

Moreover, technology will be applied to the environmental monitoring system and software will be developed to provide environmental information to local residents.

According to the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment, environmental monitoring devices in 30 spots in the city revealed that the volume of air pollutants, including fine dust, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, coarse dust particles and fine particles, from September 3 to 20 surged sharply.

At the press conference, Son also pointed out that Cat Lai Port and its adjacent areas in District 2 are the most polluted parts of the city, according to a report in the Tuoi Tre Online newspaper.

In addition, the intersection of Huynh Tan Phat and Nguyen Van Linh streets in District 7, An Suong Intersection in District 12 and Go Vap District often report high volumes of environmental pollutants.

Son said emissions from 10 million vehicles, including 7.6 million motorcycles, and some 1,000 large factories as well as dust from construction projects have polluted the air in HCMC. SGT
 
Minh Chi

HCM City to take swift action amid rising air pollution concerns

HCM City authorities have promised to take swift action to curb the worsening air pollution, including improving environmental monitoring capacity and establishing an early warning system for residents.

HCM City admits efforts to combat air pollution not fruitful

Further measures are required to tackle the air pollution that has been plaguing HCM City in the last few days, authorities have admitted.