According to data collected from the Airvisual app, Air Quality Index in Ho Chi Minh City remained at 117 on January 7. The measurement of particulate matter (PM2.5) was 7.5 times higher than the safe index advised by WHO.
Many streets in HCM City were covered in thick dust on the afternoon of January 7, affecting visuality.
Le Thi Xuan Lan, deputy head of the Southern Meteorology Hydrology Forecasting Office said that the large number of construction projects and rising amount of road traffic were the two main causes of the increasing haize recently.
Low humidity has worsened the problem, especially between 11 am - 3 pm when the haze may affect people's health, she said.
The expert advised local people to always wear face masks and eyewear when going out. Elderly people, children, pregnant women and those with some underlying health problems such as respiratory and heart diseases are advised to avoid going out during rush hours.
Many southern areas including HCM City are also seeing high levels of UV radiation according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.
Ho Chi Minh City have reported a UV radiation index of between 10-11 which was a very harmful level, the centre warned.
According to the WHO, the UV indexes of between 8-10 can burn the skin after some 25 minutes of exposure.
