PETCHBURI, Thailand – A large wildfire has caused extensive damage in Kaeng Krachan National Park, with authorities deploying ground teams and aerial support as efforts intensify to contain the blaze and identify those responsible.
Officials said the operation began on April 15, when an advance team of 16 personnel reached the affected area and started constructing firebreaks to limit the spread. More than 50 personnel, including park rangers, fire control officers, volunteers, and civil society groups, have since been mobilized to operate on foot, supported by helicopter reconnaissance flights conducting aerial surveys.
Initial assessments indicate that more than 3,000 rai of forest have been damaged, with the fire spreading north toward Ratchaburi province. By the afternoon of April 17, satellite monitoring detected more than 40 hotspot locations, with fire patterns showing rapid expansion across ridgelines and forming new clusters.
Authorities believe the pattern and timing of the fires may be linked to human activity. Investigations are examining possible connections to illegal hunting, forest product collection, and other activities. Officials are gathering evidence and pursuing legal action, while urging the public to report any information that could help prevent further damage to the protected forest. (NNT)
