The PPHO has been monitoring the haze situation closely over the past 48 hours with an alarming increase in wild fires on Sumatra observed by satellite.
Citing a situational report issued by the Southern Thailand Regional Environmental Office (Area 16) based in Songkhla, Dr Bancha Khakhong of the PPHO noted that over the past 24 hours, officials recorded a PM10 average reading of 125 in Phuket.
Anything higher than 120 is considered a public health hazard.
Dr Bancha said that according to observations from the NOAA-18 weather monitoring satelite, there were 256 wild fires spotted in Sumatra yesterday, up from only 18 on Thursday.
Therefore, the young, old, and those with heart or respitory complications are advised to avoid the haze and exerting themselves too much, he said.
He advised for everyone to avoid breathing the the polluted air in general, or to use a mask or cloth to filter the air when outside.
Meanwhile, at least seven Indonesians have been arrested in connection with the latest fires.