Composite via Facebook/"add fang life"

 

Three young Thai girls have disappeared after sneaking out of their school in Chiang Mai. The children, aged seven to nine, were last seen on CCTV wandering the streets with umbrellas in the early hours of 1 a.m., August 3. Police are urging the community to assist in the search.

 

The missing girls, seven-year-old Natnicha Phewkaew, nine-year-old Jomkwan Siamlai, and nine-year-old Kamonnit Wilai, disappeared from Rajaprajanugroh 30 School in the Mae Ai district. Officers from Mae Ai Police Station have called on residents to offer any information that might help locate the children, who were spotted near Mae Ai Luang Temple, Thairath School, and Mae Ai Fresh Market.

 

The authorities suspect that the girls might be hiding in one of 15 nearby residential communities, including Ban San Kong, Ban San Phak La, and Ban Pu Chae. Residents are asked to be vigilant and report sightings to the children’s guardians or the police. The guardian contacts are Thipsukhon Phewkaew (091-848-4515), Lek Siamlai (080-120-1680), and Rinthong Kunna (084-226-4984).

 

Photo via Facebook/สมาคมศิริกรณ์เชียงรายบรรเทาสาธารณภัย

 

The police have also provided a hotline at 053-459-033 for any crucial information. The school has not yet explained how the girls managed to leave the premises unobserved. There are whispers among online communities that homesickness might have driven the girls to attempt a return home, although this remains speculative.

 

Local authorities have announced the deployment of drones to assist in the search operations. While this decision comes amidst recent tensions and a drone ban following incidents between Thailand and Cambodia, officials assure the public that efforts will be made to locate the children safely.

 

Photo via Facebook/”add fang life“

 

The incident has caused widespread concern throughout Chiang Mai, as the police and local officials intensify their efforts to bring the girls back to safety. The situation remains tense, with the community anxiously waiting for any sign of the missing trio as the search continues.

 

As investigations proceed, the focus remains firmly on recovering the girls swiftly and safely. Community collaboration is essential to ensure their safe return, and authorities continue to urge anyone with potentially useful information to come forward immediately.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-05

 

 I am wonder what the parents are doing if these young kids are wandering on the street at 1 am... They should be in bed 

11 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

 I am wonder what the parents are doing if these young kids are wandering on the street at 1 am... They should be in bed 

 

   They were straying at a school 

Is there no security at the school?

 

The girls were spotted on the school's security camera; was no one monitoring the camera(s)?

Many hill tribe communities in the north are too far from a school for the children to be able to travel there and back daily. So they have to board at school. 

 

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

 I am wonder what the parents are doing if these young kids are wandering on the street at 1 am... They should be in bed 

They were at school, which obviously has a dormitory where the children are housed.

How could that happen.....will have to wait until the girls are safe.

At 1 a.m they would be tired soon and sleeping somewhere.

I'm sure this morning they are thirsty and hungry and soon be back to their families.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

 I am wonder what the parents are doing if these young kids are wandering on the street at 1 am... They should be in bed 

Do you not read the report before making comments 

I really hope these girls are found quickly and they come to no harm. Those responsible for their care must be held to account. 

2 minutes ago, jwl53 said:

Do you not read the report before making comments 

AN should canvas Thailand schools to find those that offer remedial reading classes and offer them reduced advertising rates.  Maybe the quality of posts would improve.

They have been found 

 

 

Hiding out in a cemetery 😳

UPDATE:

 

Runaway Schoolgirls Found Safe in Cemetery Hideout

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In a dramatic turn of events, three young schoolgirls who disappeared from their dormitory in the Mae Ai district were found safe on Monday evening. The girls, aged 7 to 9, were discovered hiding in a cemetery not far from their school.

 

Little Natnicha Phiewkaew, 7, along with Jomkhwan Siamlai, 9, and Kamonnit Wilai, 9, are students at Rajaprajanugroh 30 School. The trio had been last seen on CCTV around 1am, wandering past Wat Mae Ai Luang and Mae Ai Fresh Market, sparking a frantic search by police and locals.

 

Despite thorough searches by police, military, and rescue teams, the girls managed to elude discovery in the cemetery on Monday morning. It appears they chose to stay hidden as search teams scoured the area, according to a police source.

 

However, hunger may have pushed the girls from their hiding spot later in the day. A vigilant local spotted the hungry trio and immediately notified the authorities. The girls were safely retrieved, and relieved families were reunited with them shortly after.

 

The incident has sparked concerns about the school's safety measures. Acting Sub-Lieutenant Thanu Wongchinda, Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, stated that a committee is now investigating to understand how this could have happened.

 

This incident wasn’t the first escape attempt by the girls, highlighting an urgent need to reassess dormitory security and supervision protocols. The investigation will delve into these concerns to prevent future occurrences, ensuring the safety and welfare of the children involved.

 

As the situation unfolds, the school is facing increasing pressure to tighten its security and create a safer environment for its students. Authorities remain committed to ensuring such incidents do not recur, focusing on stricter oversight and enhanced safety measures.

 

Education officials and local authorities anticipate close collaboration during the investigation, with the findings likely to influence future policies and protocols in similar institutions. This incident underscores the importance of vigilant supervision in educational settings, especially for young students.

 

The community is eagerly awaiting the committee's findings, hoping for swift action and improvements in student safety policies. For now, relief and gratitude prevail as the three girls are safely back in the care of their families.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-05

 

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

 I am wonder what the parents are doing if these young kids are wandering on the street at 1 am... They should be in bed 

Reading between the lines the children were boarding at the school, not at home.

This screams for a root cause analysis.

 

Why do these girls want to run away?

Better security? OK.

 

But is there a problem with how kids are treated at school?

 

 

 

 

why is the immediate worry about the security at the school.... it should be surrounding why these girls keep wanting to escape

5 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

This screams for a root cause analysis.

 

Why do these girls want to run away?

Better security? OK.

 

But is there a problem with how kids are treated at school?

 

 

 

 

I agree. There may be a reason for the girls to keep running away. It could be nothing more than missing their families, or something more worrying.

I'm happy they are safe.

13 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

I'm happy they are safe.

Me too.

 

I also think they are very smart and brave.

I wish them the best.

Good news that they were found safe.  Need to find out why they want to leave the school as apparently this isn't the first time they have tried to leave.  

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

 I am wonder what the parents are doing if these young kids are wandering on the street at 1 am... They should be in bed 

Agreed. For these children to be wandering around in the middle of the night, the parents' role in this has to be a major factor

Good to know they were found.

ASEAN Now Investigation panel now dismissed

Well done everybody on that one ! 

1 hour ago, jwl53 said:

Do you not read the report before making comments 

You have exposed the "secret sauce" of this website.  It is (1) "react to headline without reading content" (2) Get in an online flame fest with another person who has also not read the article (3) Exchange personal insults, despite the fact they have never met (4) Until finally ... Something, something, mumble, mumble, "Hitler" 

Thank God for that.

 Call me cynical, but I wonder whether it was just homesickness that caused three girls to escape from a school where they were, I think, boarders.

 

I hope they were being well treated at the school and I am wrong.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Reading between the lines the children were boarding at the school, not at home.

Maybe they were bored at school and wanted to go home.

Brave girls, happy they are safe.  

2 hours ago, webfact said:

UPDATE:

 

Runaway Schoolgirls Found Safe in Cemetery Hideout

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In a dramatic turn of events, three young schoolgirls who disappeared from their dormitory in the Mae Ai district were found safe on Monday evening. The girls, aged 7 to 9, were discovered hiding in a cemetery not far from their school.

 

Little Natnicha Phiewkaew, 7, along with Jomkhwan Siamlai, 9, and Kamonnit Wilai, 9, are students at Rajaprajanugroh 30 School. The trio had been last seen on CCTV around 1am, wandering past Wat Mae Ai Luang and Mae Ai Fresh Market, sparking a frantic search by police and locals.

 

Despite thorough searches by police, military, and rescue teams, the girls managed to elude discovery in the cemetery on Monday morning. It appears they chose to stay hidden as search teams scoured the area, according to a police source.

 

However, hunger may have pushed the girls from their hiding spot later in the day. A vigilant local spotted the hungry trio and immediately notified the authorities. The girls were safely retrieved, and relieved families were reunited with them shortly after.

 

The incident has sparked concerns about the school's safety measures. Acting Sub-Lieutenant Thanu Wongchinda, Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, stated that a committee is now investigating to understand how this could have happened.

 

This incident wasn’t the first escape attempt by the girls, highlighting an urgent need to reassess dormitory security and supervision protocols. The investigation will delve into these concerns to prevent future occurrences, ensuring the safety and welfare of the children involved.

 

As the situation unfolds, the school is facing increasing pressure to tighten its security and create a safer environment for its students. Authorities remain committed to ensuring such incidents do not recur, focusing on stricter oversight and enhanced safety measures.

 

Education officials and local authorities anticipate close collaboration during the investigation, with the findings likely to influence future policies and protocols in similar institutions. This incident underscores the importance of vigilant supervision in educational settings, especially for young students.

 

The community is eagerly awaiting the committee's findings, hoping for swift action and improvements in student safety policies. For now, relief and gratitude prevail as the three girls are safely back in the care of their families.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-05

 

Escape or escapade? Not the first time? Just homesick? Perhaps questions should be asked as to why they want to abscond?

Were they abused in their dormitory ?

As they say: nothing good happens after midnight, especially when 3 little girls are left walking alone at 1 a.m.