The Sob Moei District Chief has ordered the urgent evacuation ofvillagersfrom Mae Sam Laep village along the Salween River due to fighting in Myanmar, after planes droppedbombsconsecutively, about 7 to 9 bombs, with one found to have fallen on the Thai side. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
On 20 April 2026 at 12:00 PM, Mr. Kamphan Mokthaisong, Sob Moei District Chief, visited Mae Sam Laep village, Mae Sam Laep Subdistrict, Sob Moei District, Mae Hong Son Province, accompanied by Mr. Thanawat Kongsiri, Security Deputy District Chief, Mr. Pongpipat Meibenjamas, Chief Executive of Mae Sam Laep Subdistrict Administrative Organization, police from Sob Moei Police Station, the 36th Ranger Unit, and related agencies to follow up on the situation.
Around 10:45 AM, Myanmar aircraft dropped bombs near U Mee Tha camp on the Myanmar side, opposite Mae Sam Laep village on the Thai side. Villagers reported hearing approximately 7 to 9 explosions, with one bomb falling onto the Thai side, creating a large crater along the riverbank at Mae Wan village, Tha Ta Fang hamlet, Mae Yuam Subdistrict, Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son Province. No houses were damaged.The villagersor Thai residents suffered no loss of life or property damage.
Currently, the Sob Moei District Chief has instructed village heads to warn villagers to evacuate to safe areas. Coordination with Mae Sam Laep SAO has been made to relocate women and children to the child development center at Ban Huai Kong Kad, totaling 15 people, who are under the care of Mae Sam Laep SAO. Food and drinking water have been provided to these villagers.
Additionally, some villagers are sheltering in nearby bomb shelters close to their homes.Approximately10 people have taken refuge there, while others have evacuated from their homes to stay along the streams.
Mr. Pongpipat Meibenjamas, Chief Executive of Mae Sam Laep Subdistrict Administrative Organization, stated that given the current situation, the SAO is preparing emergency response measures due to instability near the border, about 7 kilometers away. They are ready to evacuate villagers to safe zones such as the early childhood development center at Ban Mae Kong Kad School. Currently, the 3608th Ranger Unit, the Sob Moei Police Superintendent, and the SAO Chief Executive have deployed personnel to the area to assess the situation and prepare to assist with further evacuations.
