A lightning strike hit a hut in the Mae Chaem highlands of Chiang Mai province, where villagers harvesting rice sought shelter from the rain. One person died and several were injured.
At 17:00 on 6 November 2026, Police Sub-Lieutenant Witwats Taprajam, Deputy Investigation Inspector of Mae Chaem Police Station, Chiang Mai, received a report of a lightning strike incident involving villagers of the Pa-Ka-yo or Karen ethnic group in Ban Mai Pattana, Village No. 14, Mae Na Chon subdistrict, Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai.
After receiving the report, he informed Police Colonel Somchai Maiman, Chief of Mae Chaem Police Station, before rushing to the scene with Border Patrol Police Unit 332 and village leaders.
At the scene, officers had to wade through the rapidly flowing Mae Chaem river amid continuous heavy rain. They found a hut located in the highlands struck by lightning, causing damage and leaving injured individuals scattered and moaning. Initially, nine people were found: four with minor injuries and one with moderate injuries.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that all nine had been working harvesting hill rice. During the late afternoon harvest, a thunderstorm and rain forced them to take shelter inside the hut. Suddenly, lightning struck the middle of the hut, causing injuries scattered in different directions, ranging from minor to moderate and severe. One male victim died. All injured were taken to Theparat Wetjanukul Hospital in Mae Chaem, Chiang Mai for treatment.