Surat Thani mountain fire from lightning strike, still burning

Matichon•Society•11h ago

Reader Briefing

A lightning strike on April 12-13 caused a significant wildfire on a mountain in Surat Thani, which authorities are battling to control.

•Lightning struck a mountain in Surat Thani on the night of April 12-13, igniting fires.
•The fires spread rapidly due to dry conditions and steep terrain, affecting two locations.
•Authorities are working to contain the blaze, which remained uncontrolled by the morning of April 13.
•A separate, earlier fire on April 12 on Highway 44 in Mueang district was controlled after 2 hours, possibly caused by a discarded cigarette.

•On April 12, 2024, lightning struck a mountain in Ban Thamniam Subdistrict, Khirirat Phirathorn District, Surat Thani.
•The lightning strike caused a wildfire on the mountain top.
•The wildfire spread rapidly to two points on the mountain due to dry conditions and steep cliffs.
•The fire continued into April 13, 2024, with authorities still unable to control the blaze.
•One fire line spread towards neighboring villagers' gardens near Highway 44.
•Another fire line moved towards the Ban Thamniam Monastery.
•The Ban Thamniam Subdistrict Administrative Organization dispatched a disaster prevention unit and a fire truck.
•On the night of April 12, 2024, a separate fire ignited trees and grass along Highway 44 in Khun Thale Subdistrict, Mueang District, Surat Thani.
•The District Chief of Mueang Surat Thani coordinated rescue efforts using fire trucks and water tankers from various agencies.
•Firefighting efforts on Highway 44 took over 2 hours to control the fire, with ongoing surveillance due to dry grass.
•The Highway 44 fire is preliminarily suspected to be caused by a discarded cigarette from a passing vehicle.

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Surat Thani(สุราษฎร์ธานี)ℹ️

The province in Thailand where the mountain fires occurred.

Highway 44(เลข.44)

The highway where a separate fire occurred near Mueang district, Surat Thani.

Ban Thamniam Subdistrict(ต.บ้านทำเนียบ)

The subdistrict in Khirirat Phirathorn District, Surat Thani, where the primary mountain fire is located.

Khirirat Phirathorn District(อ.คีรีรัฐนิคม)

The district in Surat Thani province where Ban Thamniam Subdistrict is located.

Ban Thamniam Monastery(สำนักสงฆ์บ้านทำเนียบ)

A religious site located in Ban Thamniam Subdistrict, Surat Thani, towards which one of the wildfire's fire lines spread.

Mueang District, Surat Thani(อ.เมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี)

The district within Surat Thani province where a separate fire occurred on Highway 44.

Khun Thale Subdistrict(ต.ขุนทะเล)

The subdistrict in Mueang District, Surat Thani, where a fire occurred along Highway 44.

Surat Thani-Ta Khua Pa Road(ถนนสุราษฎร์-ตะกั่วป่า)

A road near the location of the mountain fire in Surat Thani.

Highway 44 Surat Thani-Krabi (Southern) Road(ถนนทางหลวง44 สุราษฎร์ธานี-กระบี่(เซาท์เทิร์น))

The specific name of the highway where a fire occurred in Mueang District, Surat Thani.

Ban Thamniam Subdistrict Administrative Organization(อบต.บ้านทำเนียบ)

The local administrative body that dispatched firefighting and disaster relief units to the mountain fire.

Sura Thani Provincial Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation(สำนักงาน ปภ.สุราษฎร์ธานี)

An organization that provided water tankers to help extinguish a fire on Highway 44.

Surat Thani Highway District(แขวงทางหลวงสุราษฎร์ธานี)

A highway authority that provided resources to control a fire on Highway 44.

Mobile Development Unit 46, Thai Army(หน่วยพัฒนาการเคลื่อนที่ 46 กองทัพไทย)

A unit of the Thai Army that participated in controlling a fire on Highway 44.

Mr. Sucheaw Tuomosik(นายสุเชาว์ ทูโมสิก)

The District Chief of Mueang Surat Thani who coordinated efforts to control a fire on Highway 44.