CityNews – 9th November, The Director of the Airport Organisation Thailand, Chiang Mai, Group Captain Wisoot Chantana, announced yesterday that there will be no flights in nor out of the Chiang Mai International Airport after 9pm on the 25th November until early the next morning.
Liaising with numerous authorities, he also made an announcement regarding new standards for khom loy, or lanterns. People are asked not to use any lanterns with a bigger total size than one metre squared, or a diameter of 90 cms, and no taller than 140 cms. He asks that all lanterns are made from natural resources, natural paper and with a wooden, not wire, frame. The time for each lantern to be lit should be no longer than eight minutes and the flammable area should weigh no more than 55 grams and be soaked in beeswax as well as being attached to the lantern with a flame retardant string or a number 24 wire (with a circumference of no more than 0.5 millimetres at a length of no more than 30 cms.
Citizens are asked to not release any lanterns until after 9.30 pm on the night of the 25th and there will be certain zones allocate for the release of lanterns.