A large sinkhole has formed at Phu Pha Man, Khon Kaen Province, with authorities cordoning off the area to restrict access. The ground is expected to continue subsiding. Disaster relief measures have been approved, providing agricultural assistance at 1,340 baht per rai.
Officials investigated a large sinkhole in Village 2, Ban Wang Charoen, Huai Muang Subdistrict, Phu Pha Man District, Khon Kaen Province, where water seepage was observed at the bottom of the hole, as previously reported.Read more: Residents alarmed by seven large sinkholes at Phu Pha Man, Khon Kaen Province.)
Most recently, at 10:30 a.m. on 5 August 2026, at the Huai Muang SAO meeting room in Phu Pha Man District, Khon Kaen, Mr. Komphet Krosing, Chief of Huai Muang Subdistrict Administrative Organization, held a meeting with Ms. Ora-uma Summat, Director of the Department of Mineral Resources Region 2 (Khon Kaen), Mr. Wisarut Pu-peng, Khon Kaen MP for District 6 from the Bhumjaithai Party, along with eight geologists, disaster prevention officers, and other relevant officials. They coordinated with Mr. Siwokorn Mitrach, District Chief of Phu Pha Man, local administration officials, and community leaders to inspect the sinkhole at Ban Wang Charoen, Village 2, Huai Muang Subdistrict, Phu Pha Man. The area was cordoned off with ropes to prevent entry for safety reasons.
Upon inspection, the sinkhole has expanded to about 6 by 5 meters wide and approximately 3 meters deep. It lies within a rice cultivation area belonging to villagers and has been subsiding progressively over the past two days.
Additionally, several other sinkholes have formed over the past two days, showing signs of continued subsidence with increasing size and depth. The most dangerous spot is in a sugarcane field on the village's western side, where rainwater is eroding the surface soil. Officials have fenced off this area and warned residents to stay away as further collapse is expected.
Mr. Komphet Krosing, Chief of Huai Muang SAO, said that preliminary meeting and inspection results from the Department of Mineral Resources Region 2 (Khon Kaen) indicate that the sinkholes are a natural disaster caused by the area's limestone bedrock, which can lead to deep ground collapses.
They also found that similar sinkholes have occurred repeatedly in nearby areas. Surveys show comparable sinkhole events, supporting the conclusion that this is a natural phenomenon. However, the exact causes remain unclear, as such events had never been recorded by ancestors but have appeared more frequently over the past ten years, with this year seeing an even higher occurrence.
Mr. Komphet Krosing added that the Huai Muang SAO will compile damage reports to provide assistance and compensation to affected farmers under natural disaster relief guidelines. Farmers registered prior to the disaster are eligible for aid at a rate not exceeding 1,500 baht per rai.
The ground continues to subside gradually rather than collapsing all at once, expanding in area and increasing in depth. Authorities have advised farmers cultivating rice, sugarcane, and other crops to be cautious when working in their fields. They should watch for cracks or fissures in the soil, avoid entering such areas, and promptly report them for official inspection and safety cordoning.