A severe fire broke out during Songkran at a seven-story shophouse in central Hat Yai. Nearly 10 fire trucks were dispatched by authorities. The initial cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit, and tags are [fire, Hat Yai, emergency response, electrical short circuit]
At 07:15 today (13 Apr 2026 GMT+7) in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, a severe fire occurred during Songkran. The fire broke out at a seven-story shophouse located at the entrance of Soi 1, Phonphichai Road, within Hat Yai Municipality, near Yan Yong Market. The building houses Yongchaiwat Color Car Company Limited, a shop selling both house paint and automotive paint, tags: [Hat Yai, fire, Songkran, commercial building, paint shop]
Mr. Narongporn Na Phatthalung, Mayor of Hat Yai Municipality, dispatched nearly 10 fire trucks to spray water and control the fire. Meanwhile, Pol. Col. Macha Kaewthong, Superintendent of Hat Yai Police Station, ordered a police force to secure the area and manage traffic to facilitate swift firefighting. Rescue teams from the Mittrapap Samakkee Foundation (Theng Sia Siang Tung) in Hat Yai also reinforced the effort, bringing ambulances ready to assist any injured persons, tags: [firefighting, police, rescue teams, Hat Yai]
During the incident, flames erupted fiercely from the ground floor, with fire bursting through the doors outside and gradually spreading upward. Floors 1, 2, and 3 stored many paint containers inside the shop, which acted as strong fuel for the fire, intensifying the blaze. Thick black smoke billowed out, accompanied by continuous loud explosions, tags: [fire spread, paint storage, explosions, smoke]
Fortunately, no residents were inside the shophouse at the time. Firefighters focused on spraying water to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. After about an hour, they managed to extinguish the intense flames, tags: [fire control, safety, Hat Yai, shophouse]
However, water spraying continues to cool the area until the fire is fully out, as heat and smoke remain inside. Officials have not yet been able to inspect the interior damage, but the first and second floors appear to have suffered the worst fire damage. Paints and other items inside the shop were completely destroyed by the fire, tags: [damage assessment, fire aftermath, Hat Yai]
When asked, the shop owner’s mother said no one was in the building during the fire because her son had taken the family to China for a trip. She usually stays alone at the shop overnight but had stayed at another house last night, tags: [shop owner, eyewitness, absence, family trip]
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause but initially suspect an electrical short circuit. After the situation stabilizes, Hat Yai Police will coordinate with forensic officials to conduct a detailed investigation. The value of the damage will be determined once the shop owner returns, tags: [investigation, electrical fault, damage assessment, Hat Yai Police]