Rescue workers lamented running out of fuel while transporting a patient to the hospital after gas stations ran out of diesel and had no refueling options, forcing them to buy small amounts from local residents.
On 19 March 2026, Facebook user Ratchaneekorn Chalermwat posted, “I’ve only seen this in videos, never thought I would experience it myself. It’s disheartening.” The post included a clip showing an ambulance running out of fuel roadside while fellow rescuers poured diesel from a jerrycan to refill the vehicle. An elderly patient was inside the ambulance.
Recently, our news team contacted Mr. Ratchaneekorn Chalermwat, a rescue worker from Duang Tawan Association, Ban Mo District, Saraburi Province, and the original poster. He explained that gas stations limited diesel refills to only 500 baht per vehicle, which was insufficient. Many stations in the area and nearby were out of diesel. Even if some fuel remained, it was not enough due to long queues and rapid depletion.
Sometimes when picking up patients for hospital transport, the distances are unpredictable. On days with multiple patients and injured persons, fuel runs short quickly. Today around midday, his ambulance ran out of fuel and had to stop roadside, despite having an elderly patient inside needing hospital care. He had to call fellow rescuers to help find diesel by buying small amounts from local residents to refill the ambulance and complete the patient’s transfer to the hospital.
Mr. Ratchaneekorn Chalermwat said that currently, he and other rescuers are struggling with diesel shortages but must respond to emergency calls because seriously ill patients cannot wait. He cannot stop running missions. Ultimately, he hopes gas stations will lift the diesel refilling limits for rescue vehicles, as some stations currently restrict diesel refills to just 500 baht per ambulance.