Wat Mahathat temple in Nakhon Phanom province has temporarily suspended its cremation services due to a fuel shortage, impacting local residents who depend on the temple for funeral rites. On March 15, 2026, reports confirmed that the temple in Mueang district had stopped accepting bodies and closed its crematorium due to this issue. The fuel scarcity arose as petrol stations refused to sell fuel in containers, making it difficult for the temple to maintain necessary reserves.

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Phra Khru Samu Kittichai Sukhawattano, the temple’s deputy abbot, explained that the temple had announced the suspension on its Facebook page. The temple’s cremation furnace, requiring approximately 90 litres of oil costing 3,000 baht per service, cannot function without sufficient fuel reserves. Previously, the temple kept fuel reserves up to 100 litres, but recent petrol station policies now limit purchases to 500 baht and refuse to fill containers.

The deputy abbot mentioned that families could provide their own fuel for cremations, though they might encounter similar purchasing challenges. Wat Mahathat is vital to the local community, offering cremation services for unclaimed bodies and averaging at least 10 such services monthly. If the suspension persists, it could severely impact residents, particularly poor families relying on the temple for affordable services.

The temple urges provincial authorities to intervene with petrol station operators to allow the purchase of fuel in necessary amounts for cremations. It seeks to reduce the impact on the community by requesting special permissions. The situation highlights the temple's dependency on external cooperation to continue its important social and cultural role. reported The Nation.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 16 Mar 2026

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I don't understand.. If you read the news there are no problems expected for the next 40 days... So life can go on... But is that what the Government wants us to believe and is the reality different?? I have seen petrol stations closed already, long queus at petrol stations, and I heard that some items already are more expensive than before the Iranian war. Tourists from Europe are declining and there will be much more coming.. But now some places have limited fuel that you can buy and/or can fill containers... But there are no worries according to the Government which of course are trying to manipulate the people and keep them calm

Modern-day cremation, our temples in our rural area still use charcoal, it takes 3 bags to cremate a person, one bag is about 300 baht

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I don't understand.. If you read the news there are no problems expected for the next 40 days... So life can go on... But is that what the Government wants us to believe and is the reality different?? I have seen petrol stations closed already, long queus at petrol stations, and I heard that some items already are more expensive than before the Iranian war. Tourists from Europe are declining and there will be much more coming.. But now some places have limited fuel that you can buy and/or can fill containers... But there are no worries according to the Government which of course are trying to manipulate the people and keep them calm

Sounds like the oil embargoes in the USA in the 1970s...which I vividly recall.

The lines were very long.

And, filling a container was easier said than done.

1 hour ago, kickstart said:

Modern-day cremation, our temples in our rural area still use charcoal, it takes 3 bags to cremate a person, one bag is about 300 baht

All the cremations I've been too, including last November, were on top of a large amount of charcoal. A liberal sprinkling of petrol as accelerant is often added, but no more than one litre.

2 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

All the cremations I've been too, including last November, were on top of a large amount of charcoal. A liberal sprinkling of petrol as accelerant is often added, but no more than one litre.

Sounds like a barbecue, rather than a cremation.

But, I would prefer charcoal, personally.

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I don't understand.. If you read the news there are no problems expected for the next 40 days... So life can go on... But is that what the Government wants us to believe and is the reality different?? I have seen petrol stations closed already, long queus at petrol stations, and I heard that some items already are more expensive than before the Iranian war. Tourists from Europe are declining and there will be much more coming.. But now some places have limited fuel that you can buy and/or can fill containers... But there are no worries according to the Government which of course are trying to manipulate the people and keep them calm

Panic buying and the filling of numerous 50 litre barrels before the price goes up tomorrow is the issue. Soon the stations will be replenished and devoid of long queues (I expect). Of course, the government does seek to limit panic and keep the populace calm. It makes sense. Should have just allowed the price to move to market rates naturally.

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Sounds like the oil embargoes in the USA in the 1970s...which I vividly recall.

The lines were very long.

And, filling a container was easier said than done.

I remember the 1970's embargo very well.

Hours at the station for a couple of gallons.

Talk about range insecurity.

Actually it got so bad I got a new job.....

In Bangkok!

11 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Sounds like a barbecue, rather than a cremation.

But, I would prefer charcoal, personally.

Ahh, the smell of meat grilled over charcoal...

3 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

Ahh, the smell of meat grilled over charcoal...

Not if you are vegan 😁