BANGKOK: Air pollution forced nearly 200 schools in Bangkok to close on Thursday (Jan 23), local authorities said, as officials urged people to work from home and restricted heavy vehicles in the city.

More than 250 schools in Bangkok were closed on Thursday due to pollution, authorities said, as officials urged people to work from home and restricted heavy vehicles in the city. "There really needs to be a wake-up call on the need to invest in the education system and protect children,

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration urged people to work from home for the rest of the week if they can, with air pollution forecast to worsen after already forcing the temporary closure of more than a dozen schools.

Nearly 200 schools in Bangkok, Thailand, were forced to shut down on Thursday amid severe air pollution. The city's authorities have advised residents to work from home and imposed restrictions on heavy vehicles. The Thai capital is battling seasonal air pollution, exacerbated by colder winter air, crop stubble burning, and vehicle emissions.