Hat Yai lecturer electrocuted closing gate in floodwater
A shocking accident has left Hat Yai residents reeling as a university lecturer lost his life after being electrocuted while closing his front gate in waist-high floodwater. Police are scrambling to uncover who is to blame for the deadly oversight.
Officials from the Provincial Electricity Authority’s (PEA) Hat Yai branch inspected the scene and identified a copper-exposed wire near Narun Nattharom’s gate. It is believed the wire became worn from frequent contact with the gate. Alarming findings revealed the wire had only a single layer of insulation—flouting safety regulations that mandate two layers or protective conduits for outdoor use.
Other houses in the same estate were found with similarly dangerous wiring. As a result, the PEA has cut power to the estate until the faulty systems are replaced. Residents have been warned to steer clear of handling metal objects or electrical devices in standing water. The PEA reiterated its duty to block power supply to estates with unsafe wiring.
Electrical engineering expert Assistant Professor Dusit Suksawat explained the problem.
“The victim likely died when the damaged wire electrified the metal gate, sending a current through his body into the floodwater, causing immediate organ failure.”
The housing developer has pledged support to Narun’s family and promised to overhaul the estate’s electrical systems to meet regulations. However, consumer protection advocate Narumon Mekborisut stressed accountability.
“Both the PEA and the developer could face consequences if negligence is proven.”
With investigations ongoing, police aim to hold the responsible parties accountable and prevent future tragedies, reported Bangkok Post.
In related news, a tragic incident unfolded on Thursday evening, November 21 on Pattaya Walking Street when an electrician was fatally electrocuted while working on a ceiling fan in an agogo bar. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Centre received an urgent call at 7.06pm regarding the incident at the newly opened bar, the name of which has been withheld upon request.
