While the parents went to collect drying rice, a house fire broke out, killing their 2-year-old son in the flames. The cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit. Neighbors reported hearing the child crying out, “Mommy, Mommy,” during the fire.
At 14:40 on 8 Nov 2026, Police Lieutenant Sarawut Surasiang, investigator at Na Kha Subdistrict Police Station, was notified by Na Ree Noikanya, village headman of Nakhamluang, of a house fire in Village 17, Nakhamluang, Na Kha Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province, in which a 2-year-old child died. Firefighters from Na Kha Subdistrict Administrative Organization with two fire trucks, rescue volunteers from the Prom Tham Foundation, and doctors from Udon Thani Regional Hospital rushed to the scene, where locals had recorded video footage.
At the scene, many villagers gathered to watch the fire engulf a two-story half-wood, half-concrete house. Locals were using hoses to try to extinguish the flames, but the fire quickly spread and damaged the entire house before officials arrived. Upon arrival, authorities sprayed water to contain the fire, taking about 30 minutes to bring it under control.
Officials searched and found the body of Nong Boss, aged 2 years and 1 month, badly burned lying near the front door amid the shocked and saddened cries of villagers.
Mr. Rueangyot, 25, the boy’s father, said he has three children, with Nong Boss being the youngest. He separated from the boy’s mother when the child was nine months old. The mother went to work in southern Thailand, while he raised the children alone. He remarried and moved to his new wife's home, bringing his children with him. Before the incident, he and his wife had taken unhusked rice to dry about 200 meters from the house.
Mr. Rueangyot continued that that afternoon he and his wife were collecting the dried rice into sacks. Before leaving, he put Nong Boss to sleep upstairs. While filling the sacks, he saw smoke billowing from his house and realized it was on fire. He rushed back to find the entire house ablaze and was unable to enter to help. He believes Nong Boss was burned to death. The cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit at the cutoff switch near the stairs leading to the second floor.
Ms. Suwanan, 29, a nearby neighbor who filmed the event, said she was resting at home when she heard a child crying. Thinking the kids were playing, she went to the bathroom. When she came out, she heard the cries again and smelled smoke. Upon looking outside, she saw the house on fire. She ran inside to help and heard the child calling “Mommy, Mommy,” but could not reach the boy due to the fire on the stairs spreading to the second floor. She ran out to call the fire department and rescue teams and alerted neighbors to help, but they could not save the child.
Police believe that while Nong Boss was asleep alone on the second floor, an electrical short circuit ignited a fire. The wooden second floor acted as fuel, causing the flames to spread rapidly. No one could reach the boy in time, leading to his fatal burns. Forensic officials will conduct further investigations to confirm the exact cause.