MPs Somchat and Poonsak from the People's Party have urged the government to put out the ongoing landfill fire crisis in Phuket, pointing out that over 2,000 high-risk waste sites exist nationwide. They warned that leaving the situation unresolved could severely affect public health.
On 23 Apr 2026 GMT+7 at the Parliament, Mr. Somchat Techathaworncharoen, People's Party MP for Phuket District 1, together with Mr. Poonsak Janjampai, a party-list MP from the People's Party, held a press conference demanding swift government action to resolve the landfill fire crisis in Phuket province. Mr. Somchat stated that the fires during the recent Songkran festival covered all five landfill sites, which contain over 1,000,000 tons of accumulated waste and significant amounts of underground methane gas, a primary cause of the fires' easy ignition.
Mr. Somchat added that upon inspecting the situation, he found cause for concern since such fires had occurred the previous year. However, when he proposed that relevant agencies—including the Department of Local Administration, Phuket Municipality, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation—use infrared drone technology to detect heat spots and plan targeted firefighting, none had such equipment. The response was that procurement was still underway. He urged all agencies to review and strengthen proactive measures to prevent recurring incidents that could harm public health and damage Phuket’s reputation as a world-class tourist destination.
Mr. Poonsak noted that landfill fires are an issue he has repeatedly warned the government about. Last year, there were over 150 landfill fires nationwide, and in the first six months of this year, the situation has not improved. Recently, fires have spread beyond Phuket to Hat Yai, affecting both local landfill sites and illegal dumping areas. He estimated that at least 2,000 high-risk open waste sites exist across the country, all potential sources of pollution at any time.
Mr. Poonsak pointed out that the impacts from landfill fires are more severe than commonly thought. Besides worsening PM2.5 pollution, carcinogenic substances spread into the respiratory systems of residents. Chemicals in the water used to extinguish fires may also leak into natural water sources. This chronic problem, persisting for over 20 to 30 years, reflects weak law enforcement and a lack of genuine commitment by successive governments. To date, the current government has not implemented clear measures for compensation or wastewater management.
In conclusion, Mr. Poonsak stated that the People's Party calls on the government to elevate environmental issues to an urgent agenda. Concrete timelines and plans must be established to address the 2,000 high-risk waste sites. He emphasized that the technology and methods to solve these problems already exist; what matters is whether the government has the political will to act decisively for the safety of the people.