Chiang Mai's Disaster Prevention Office suspects that the collapse of the Wat Mai Nong Hoi stupa's spire was caused by heavy rainfall and water retention within the stupa, which softened the internal soil and caused it to collapse.
Regarding the incident where the spire of Wat Mai Nong Hoi collapsed at 09:45 on 3 November 2026, fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported, as previously reported.("Moment of the Wat Mai Nong Hoi stupa spire collapse revealed; fortunately, no injuries reported.")
Most recently, at 14:30, Mr. Watthana Sakorn, head of Chiang Mai Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, said that the Hod branch of the office, together with the Doi Lo district chief, the Buddhist Office, the Fine Arts Department, Development Military, Santisuk Municipality, and local administrative authorities, jointly inspected the damage to Wat Mai Nong Hoi stupa in Santisuk Subdistrict, Doi Lo District, Chiang Mai Province. The inspection aims to assess the damage and plan restoration to return it to its original state reflecting the community's faith, ensuring greater strength and safety.
They have coordinated with the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Works and Town Planning Office and the Santisuk Municipality engineering division to survey the stupa's structure for planning repair and restoration work.
However, the preliminary cause is believed to be heavy rain overnight and prolonged water accumulation inside the stupa, which weakened the soil within, leading to the collapse.