Thai gold hunter killed in landslide at mine in southern Thailand

A Thai gold hunter yesterday lost his life in a landslide at a mine in the southern province of Prachup Kiri Khan.

Officers from Bang Saphan Police Station and the Sawang Ratsattadham Foundation rushed to the gold mine in the Ron Thong sub-district, Bang Saphan district, Prachub Kiri Khan after receiving a notification about the landslide. Locals informed the police that a Thai man, 48 year old Rung-uthai Rungsawang, was missing.

According to police, the mine was more than 10 metres deep. Unfortunately, the dirt at the top of the hole collapsed while three gold miners were working, forcing them to flee for their lives.

Two of the miners, Somphon and Thongduen, managed to escape safely with the help of people living near the mine. Rung-uthai, however, was able to get out in time because he was at the bottom of the hole.

Rescuers spent more than five hours digging through the earth and finally found Rung-uthai around 10.30pm last night. Sadly, he was found lifeless at a depth of about 8 to 10 meters. His body was transferred to the hospital for an autopsy.

Somphon and Thongduen recounted the incident to the police, detailing their gold-hunting expedition. They explained that they commenced their search around 4pm. Rung-uthai was digging dirt into buckets at the bottom of a hole, preparing for gold panning, while Somphon and Thongduen were at the top, hauling each bucket of dirt out of the hole.

Somphon and Thongduen described hearing the sound of a landslide and witnessing the dirt covering Rung-uthai. Despite their efforts to dig and clear the dirt to rescue him, they became engulfed gradually.

The pair informed the authorities that locals in the vicinity heard their cries for help and rushed to their aid. Although the locals provided ropes to help them climb out, they narrowly escaped death but were unable to save their friend.

The Deputy Governor of Prachup Kiri Khan province, Kitipong Sookparksakun, told Naewna that the incident happened at a gold mine that was open to the public.

There was not much gold left in the mine but some locals still went there in search of the precious metal. Kitipong said the mine would be closed for the foreseeable future in regards to residents’ safety.