An explosion occurred at the Mongkolnimit Temple crematorium, followed by a fire outbreak during the cremation of a pregnant LGBTQ woman. The crematorium worker believes the site is haunted, while the family was unaware of the seven-month pregnancy.
Reporters stated that around 3:30 p.m. on 15 June 2026, a fire broke out at the Mongkolnimit Temple crematorium in Bang Sao Thong Subdistrict, Bang Sao Thong District, Samut Prakan Province. The fire started violently at the back of the furnace and spread around the crematorium, igniting items beneath it. Both monks and crematorium workers tried to extinguish the fire using hoses but failed and had to call the Bang Sao Thong Municipality fire department, which sent two fire trucks. After about 30 minutes, the fire was brought under control.
Upon inspection, the body of a 38-year-old woman was found inside the cremation furnace. The crematorium worker had to purchase charcoal to ensure the remaining remains were fully burned.
Mr. Supalak Sukkhang, the crematorium worker, recounted that while cremating the pregnant woman—separately cremating mother and child—he noticed black smoke billowing from behind the furnace, soon followed by fierce flames. Both monks and laypeople tried to extinguish the fire but could not control it, prompting a call for fire trucks. The cause is believed to be body fat dripping into a tray, igniting the furnace's oil lines and causing the fire.
Mr. Supalak added that he believes the incident was caused by supernatural forces linked to the mother and child, as no one knew the body was pregnant until the hospital's autopsy revealed a seven-month fetus. The hospital separated mother and child before handing the remains to the family to coordinate with the temple for the cremation.
During his tenure as crematorium worker at this temple, he had never cremated a pregnant body before. When the remains arrived, the temple cremated mother and child in separate furnaces. While lighting the fires, loud noises occurred three times from the furnace, but inspections found nothing unusual, so the cremation continued. After the child's remains were mostly reduced to ashes, leaving only the mother's body, the unexpected fire broke out. He emphasized that despite dealing with bodies weighing hundreds of kilograms, he had never encountered such an incident before.
The deceased’s relatives said she was an LGBTQ woman, about 38 years old, living alone, who died of unknown causes. The doctors performed an autopsy and discovered the pregnancy and fetal death, which no one had known about previously.
The autopsy report stated that the woman died from heart failure and artery blockage, passing away alone at her residence.
Assistant Abbot Phra Maha Khet An Piyasilo of Mongkolnimit Temple said this was the first pregnant body cremated at the temple. The damage is estimated to be several hundred thousand baht. The crematorium must be temporarily closed, and upcoming cremations postponed. Repairs are expected to take at least one week.