Air pollution at high levels in the next 10 days in Hanoi and neighboring provinces

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in the next 10 days, Hanoi and neighboring provinces will experience unfavorable weather patterns, reducing the ability to diffuse pollutants in the air environment, with a high risk of air pollution.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD) has just sent an official dispatch to the People's Committee of Hanoi and neighboring provinces (including Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Ninh Binh), requesting the implementation of urgent measures to respond to the air pollution forecast in late November and early December 2025.

The content of the document emphasizes that according to monitoring data from the national environmental quality monitoring system and hydrometeorological forecasting, in the next 10 days, the Northern region, especially Hanoi and neighboring provinces, will experience unfavorable weather patterns (temperature inversion, windless, fog), reducing the ability to diffuse pollutants in the air environment.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment recommends that people limit outdoor activities and exercise outdoors in the early morning and at night.

The above adverse weather patterns can lead to a high risk of accumulated PM2.5 dust concentrations (air pollution index 0 AQI exceeding 150), directly affecting economic , social activities and public health.

To proactively control, prevent and minimize the level of pollution and adverse impacts of this pollution outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requests the People's Committees of the above provinces and cities to focus on directing and drastically implementing 6 groups of urgent measures.

Accordingly, localities require environmental sanitation units and project owners investing in traffic infrastructure construction to immediately increase the frequency of street sweeping and dust extraction; use specialized vehicles to spray water to clean streets at main traffic routes and urban gateways; water spraying and dust suppression activities should be prioritized during off-peak hours (night and early morning, before 6am every day) to ensure effective reduction of dust concentration accumulated before peak traffic hours, avoiding congestion.

The official dispatch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment noted that the People's Committees of provinces and cities should direct the Department of Construction, the Commune and Ward Police and local authorities to strengthen inspection and supervision of construction sites in the area; require strict implementation of measures to cover and clean vehicles entering and leaving the site; suspend construction (if necessary) for projects that do not comply with environmental protection regulations, causing dust and dirt to spread onto the road; strengthen inspection and strictly handle vehicles transporting construction materials and waste that are not properly covered and spill onto the road, causing environmental pollution.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requested localities to direct the organization of reviews and inspections of compliance with environmental protection regulations for industrial production facilities, especially those with large emission sources (such as cement, thermal power, steel smelting), craft villages with combustion stages, especially recycling facilities in the area; control the stable operation of emission treatment systems, ensuring environmental technical standards.

In addition, the Ministry also requested localities to focus on strengthening information and warnings about public health, advising people (especially the elderly, children, and people with underlying respiratory diseases) to minimize outdoor activities, exercise outdoors in the early morning and at night, use masks when going out when the air pollution index is high to protect health, and promote the application of monitoring technology and handling violations.

A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said that the specialized agency will use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV/Flycam) and satellite images to monitor and detect open burning points and large emissions and send information and images of violations to localities, and coordinate with localities to organize inter-sectoral working groups (if necessary) to inspect and supervise implementation; resolutely handle violations and publicize information of violating organizations and individuals.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Xa-hoi/o-nhiem-khong-khi-o-muc-cao-trong-10-ngay-toi-tai-ha-noi-va-cac-tinh-lan-can-i789277/