Tragic Incident in Phang Nga: Four Men Die After Succumbing to Toxic Gas in Palm Plantation Well

Phang Nga, Thailand

In a heartbreaking chain of events, four local men lost their lives after collapsing one by one inside a deep water well in a palm plantation in the Khura district, Phang Nga province, on Sunday, April 26th, 2026.

The victims, all residents of Moo 11, Khura subdistrict, were trying to dig a new well approximately 6 meters (20 feet) deep when they were overcome by accumulated toxic gas, leading to sudden asphyxiation.

According to accounts from the scene, the incident took place as follows:

– **Mr. Suthon**, 41, went down into the well first to dig and soon lost consciousness.
– **Mr. Suthat**, 35, descended to help his friend but collapsed shortly after.
– **Mr. Theeradon**, 30, was called to assist and also lost consciousness upon entering the well.
– **Mr. Wahab**, 59, seeing his companions in distress, went down to rescue them and became the final victim.

The four men were found piled together at the bottom of the narrow shaft, having apparently struggled in vain to climb out.

Rescue workers faced significant difficulties retrieving the bodies and had to use breathing apparatus and specialized equipment to safely enter the well and bring the victims to the surface.

Preliminary investigations point to a lack of oxygen caused by toxic gases, such as methane or carbon dioxide, which had built up inside the confined space from decaying organic matter. These invisible, often odorless gases are a well-known hazard in newly dug or deep wells, particularly in agricultural areas.

No foul play is suspected. Autopsies are pending to confirm the exact cause of death.

This type of tragedy is unfortunately common in rural Thailand, where villagers frequently enter unventilated wells or pits without proper safety equipment. Experts warn that attempting rescues without protective gear often turns would-be helpers into additional victims, as seen in this devastating case.

Local authorities are reminding residents to exercise extreme caution when working in confined spaces and to use gas detectors and breathing apparatus where possible.