Two rescue units in Samut Songkhram province have announced suspension of patient transport home services, reserving operations solely for emergency and accident cases due to a limited fuel supply crisis.
On 19 Mar 2026 GMT+7, a reporter reported that the ongoing Middle East conflict has begun to impact global energy supplies and has spread to Thailand, particularly in Samut Songkhram province. Although there is no fuel shortage, restrictions on fuel refills have been imposed. As a result, the two rescue units in Samut Songkhram—the Samprachachein Samut Songkhram Rescue Foundation and the Sawang Benjatham Samut Songkhram Rescue Foundation—have announced suspension of patient transport home services, animal capture, battery charging, tire changing, and other services to conserve fuel exclusively for emergency patient transport.
Wittaya Laochuchaisakul, head of rescue operations at the Samprachachein Samut Songkhram Rescue Foundation, said that the war crisis has caused fuel prices and availability in the province to become limited. The foundation has had to adjust and plan resource use differently. Previously offering all services, they now suspend some to reserve enough fuel for emergency patient transport and critical life-saving operations.
Meanwhile, Nattapon Uchaiwan, vehicle officer at the Sawang Benjatham Samut Songkhram Rescue Foundation, stated that fuel prices and refill restrictions at local gas stations in Samut Songkhram are clearly being impacted. Although there is no outright shortage yet, the effects are noticeably significant.
Normally, our rescue units respond to an average of 30 to 40 cases daily. However, due to the current situation, we must change our approach by conserving fuel exclusively for urgent emergency patient cases only.