Fire Destroys Longan Orchards, Son Pleads for Aid

Matichon•Society•3d ago

Reader Briefing

A severe fire, fueled by strong winds and dry leaves, has destroyed approximately 8 rai of longan orchards in Chanthaburi, leading the owner's son to appeal for urgent assistance and compensation.

•A fire ravaged 8 rai of a longan orchard in Mue 4, Sai Khao Subdistrict, Soi Dao District, Chanthaburi, on April 11, 2026.
•The fire destroyed longan trees that were in full bloom and had been cultivated for two years, with an estimated loss of 300,000-400,000 baht.
•The owner's son, Nong Arm, a fourth-year engineering student, is pleading with authorities for help, requesting repairs to the irrigation system and funding for a communal well due to drought conditions.
•The incident occurred around 3:00 PM on April 7, 2026, with rapid spread due to strong winds and dry foliage.

Overview

•On April 11, 2026, reporters visited the longan orchard in Mue 4, Sai Khao Subdistrict, Soi Dao District, Chanthaburi, to investigate a fire incident.
•The fire incident occurred on April 7, 2026, around 3:00 PM, when the orchard was set ablaze.
•The fire spread rapidly due to strong winds and dry longan leaves acting as fuel, resulting in significant damage.
•Approximately 8 rai of the longan orchard were destroyed by the fire.
•Longan trees, aged 15 years and in full bloom after two years of waiting, were destroyed, representing a potential loss of 300,000-400,000 baht.
•Underground PVC water pipes were melted and damaged by the heat, with the repair cost not yet assessed.
•Nong Arm expressed distress over the loss of hopes and the compounding burden of high living costs, diesel prices, and severe drought.
•The Sukphongthai family has filed a police report, and forensic investigators have examined the scene, with results pending.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Nong Arm

"This year the longans bloomed beautifully, we had high hopes, but today they are all burnt. Just the cost of living and diesel prices more than doubling for irrigation put a heavy burden on us. Now with the fire and severe drought, the pond is almost dry, it feels like our hopes have been burned before our eyes."

ปีนี้ลำไยติดดอกสวยมาก เราหวังกับมันไว้เยอะ แต่วันนี้มันไหม้ไปตามต้นหมดแล้ว ลำพังแค่ค่าครองชีพและราคาน้ำมันดีเซลที่พุ่งสูงขึ้นกว่าเท่าตัวในการสูบน้ำเข้าสวนก็ทำให้เราแบกรับภาระหนักอยู่แล้ว พอมาเจอไฟไหม้และภัยแล้งที่รุนแรง จนน้ำในบ่อจะหมดสิ้นแบบนี้ มันเหมือนความหวังของเราถูกเผาไปต่อหน้าต่อตา

Nong Arm and Mother Ann

"We plead for mercy from relevant agencies to provide relief, especially repairing the water pipe system instead of compensating with seedlings, and requesting support for drilling a communal well."

วอนขอความเมตตาจากหน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้อง ให้ช่วยเข้ามาเยียวยา โดยเฉพาะ การซ่อมแซมระบบท่อน้ำ แทนการชดเชยด้วยต้นพันธุ์ และขอความอนุเคราะห์ งบประมาณขุดเจาะบ่อบาดาลส่วนรวม

Key Entities

Person

Ann Sukphongthai(คุณแอน สุขพงษ์ไทย)

A 50-year-old single mother and owner of the destroyed longan orchard in Chanthaburi.

Pisit Sukphongthai(นายพิเชษฐ สุขพงษ์ไทย)

Known as 'Nong Arm', a 21-year-old fourth-year engineering student and son of the orchard owner, who is pleading for aid.

Place

Mue 4, Sai Khao Subdistrict, Soi Dao District, Chanthaburi Province(หมู่ 4 ต.ทรายขาว อ.สอยดาว จ.จันทบุรี)

The location of the longan orchard that was destroyed by fire.

Organization

Sai Khao Subdistrict Municipality(เทศบาลตำบลทรายขาว)

The local municipality whose fire trucks were dispatched to combat the orchard fire.