Songkhla Authorities Battle Widespread Peat Fire Near Hospital

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

A large-scale firefighting operation is underway in Songkhla province after a peatland blaze broke out behind Songkhla Hospital, spreading across a radius of more than 500 metres and sending smoke into surrounding communities, including the hospital’s inpatient wards.

The operation is being jointly carried out by the Songkhla Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) and the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation. Helicopters have been deployed to douse the smouldering terrain with water drops from nearby sources.

Authorities say the fire, which erupted in the early hours of 28 July, has severely impacted air quality, causing distress to both hospital patients and local residents. Songkhla PAO President Supit Pitaktham, accompanied by the rainmaking operations team, surveyed the site by helicopter to assess the severity and plan containment strategies.

“We acted immediately upon being alerted by the hospital director,” said Mr Supit. “Given the close proximity to Songkhla Hospital, our top priority has been to ensure the safety of patients and medical personnel.”

The affected peatland is located near Khlong Wong in Naamnoy subdistrict, Hat Yai district. The inaccessible terrain has made conventional firefighting efforts challenging, prompting officials to rely on aerial water drops. The operation is expected to take two days to bring the situation fully under control.

Supit, a former official with the Royal Rainmaking Department, emphasised the urgency of calling in specialised support. “This is not an area where fire engines can reach, so we had to act fast and request assistance from the rainmaking unit, who have experience and the right tools for this kind of mission.”

Local authorities are urging residents to immediately report any sightings of wildfires to the Songkhla PAO, so that early intervention can prevent further escalation.

“We want the people of Songkhla to know that we are committed to protecting their wellbeing,” Supit stated. “This is a serious environmental hazard, and we are doing everything in our power to minimise its impact.”

Smoke was still being reported in the vicinity, but officials are hopeful the blaze will be fully contained soon.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-07-30