Prachuap Khiri Khan – Thai officials are intensifying search efforts for a 59-year-old man missing for seven days while foraging for mushrooms near Tham Mangkorn Cave in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. Despite daily patrols by over 100 personnel from local parks, including Kui Buri, Huai Yang Waterfall, and Hat Wanakorn National Parks, as well as community volunteers, only the man’s backpack and scattered supplies have been found.
The search operation, led by Mr. Phongsathon Promkhuntod, Chief of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, has been underway for three days, with dedicated search zones around the sites where the missing man’s belongings were discovered. Teams have established a central radio communication hub and five patrol units, expanding their search across the park’s challenging terrain, including ravines and caves. A camp has been set up near the site, while additional patrols plan to continue their exhaustive search until the missing person is located.
In light of recent illegal activities, Khao Sam Roi Yot officials have also heightened restrictions on entry into the park, designated as a restricted conservation area. Authorities have observed increased attempts by locals to collect valuable “sacred stones” found within the park, which are considered auspicious and are in demand both domestically and internationally. Villagers reportedly use covert methods to evade patrols, prompting park officials to increase security and establish 24-hour checkpoints, including one at Tham Ko Pai temple. Authorities aim to protect these natural resources from illegal trade, with the park enforcing strict regulations under the National Park Act, Section 65.
Local communities are urged to recognize the ecological and cultural importance of these restricted areas and refrain from illegal activities that threaten the park’s resources.
