BANGKOK – As Thailand’s fuel shortage continued, an undertaker in central Thailand’s Chonburi province took an unusual step to make his case. He drove to a gas station with a coffin carrying a deceased person, hoping to prove that he needed diesel for a cremation, not for hoarding.
The scene took place at a gas station along Highway 344 in Ban Bueng, Chonburi. Before long, photos and videos of the incident spread across social media, where many people reacted with shock and sympathy.
Preecha, a 48-year-old undertaker who has done this work since 2005, first arrived with an 18-liter container. He told workers he needed diesel for a cremation furnace at a temple. Still, the staff refused to sell it because the station had a strict rule against filling containers.
The next morning, he came back with the coffin in the bed of his pickup truck, along with the empty fuel containers. To make the situation clear, he opened the coffin. After that, a station employee contacted the manager, and the containers were finally filled.
Preecha streamed the moment on Facebook Live. He explained that many cremations involve low-income families who rely on donations to cover fuel costs. In this case, the family gave permission, and a donor paid for the diesel.
He also said he had been buying fuel in containers from that same station for years. Since the temple changed from wood-fired furnaces to diesel-powered ones, a steady fuel supply has become necessary.
Why Stations Stopped Selling Fuel in Containers
Thailand has been dealing with diesel shortages and panic buying. Because of that, many stations have limited or blocked sales of jerry cans and other containers. The goal is to stop people from stockpiling fuel before prices rise further.
At the same time, the government has tightened fuel controls. Stations must report daily stock levels, and officials are carrying out inspections to catch hoarding. People who break the rules could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of 100,000 baht. Authorities also paused some fuel exports for a time.
Because stations are under pressure to follow these rules, workers often apply them without exception. So even after Preecha explained that the diesel was for a cremation, staff initially stuck to the policy.
What’s Behind Thailand’s Fuel Shortage
Thailand depends heavily on imported oil. Recent disruption tied to conflict in the Middle East has strained supply chains. As a result, fears about fuel availability grew, and many people rushed to buy more than usual.
The government had kept diesel prices capped to shield consumers. But once that cap ended, demand climbed fast. Drivers lined up at stations across the country, and some pumps ran dry within hours, especially outside Bangkok.
Diesel has taken the biggest hit. In some periods, demand rose to about 19 million liters a day. On top of that, delivery problems made the shortage worse in several provinces.
Across the country, people have seen:
- Long lines stretching hundreds of yards at gas stations
- Pumps running out soon after new deliveries arrive
- Purchase limits, such as 500 to 1,000 baht per sale
- Refusals to fill containers and jerry cans
This shortage has affected daily life in many ways. Farmers need diesel for harvest machines and water pumps. Truckers and other transport operators face higher costs and delays. Temples have also had to slow or suspend cremations when they couldn’t get enough fuel.
Northern Thailand, Including Chiang Rai, Feels the Strain
In northern provinces such as Chiang Rai, the shortage has been especially difficult. Drivers have reported long waits, and many stations have turned away vehicles after selling out quickly.
One station in Chiang Rai received only about 8,000 liters of diesel, roughly one-third of its usual supply. On some days, it also had no 95-grade gasoline. Because supplies were so limited, lines formed early, and people waited for hours. Some stations posted signs saying they had no fuel left.
People in Chiang Rai and nearby areas say the shortage has interrupted commuting, farming, and small business operations. Similar reports have come from other northern and northeastern provinces, where deliveries haven’t matched the sudden jump in demand.
Officials say the country still has enough reserves for around 100 days. Even so, local delivery bottlenecks have created serious problems in many communities. For that reason, authorities have urged the public to avoid panic buying and use fuel carefully.
Cremations and Low-Income Families Face Extra Pressure
In Thailand, Buddhist temples handle most cremations. Many modern cremation furnaces run on diesel because they are cleaner and more efficient than wood-fired systems. One cremation may require 60 to 100 liters of fuel, or even more.
When stations refuse to fill containers, temples can’t store enough diesel to keep services going. Some have already warned that they may need to pause cremations. That creates even more pressure for low-income families, who often depend on help from neighbors and community donors.
Preecha spoke directly about that problem. He asked for common-sense exceptions for temples and other essential services. He also said farmers should get some flexibility during harvest season, when equipment needs regular fuel.
In the Chonburi case, the family agreed to let him show the coffin, and a donor stepped in to help pay. Still, many other families don’t have that kind of support.
How the Government Is Responding
Authorities have stepped up enforcement and monitoring across the country. Their actions include:
- Ordering provincial governors to inspect stations and report stock levels each day
- Cracking down on illegal storage and price gouging
- Trying to improve fair distribution, with extra deliveries where possible
- Offering targeted support for vulnerable groups, transport operators, and farmers
The Energy Ministry and police have also carried out broad inspections. They found some cases of hoarding, including large undeclared storage sites, but officials say those cases are limited. Online rumors have suggested that some politically connected groups are stockpiling fuel, though authorities say most of the disruption comes from panic buying.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other leaders have stressed that fuel reserves are still in place. At the same time, they have warned that hoarding only deepens the shortage for everyone else.
Some relief efforts now focus on letting prices reflect the market while helping sectors hit hardest by rising costs. After the diesel price cap ended, prices jumped sharply in late March 2026.
Why This Story Caught So Much Attention
Preecha’s story spread quickly because it showed the human side of the fuel crisis. Bringing a coffin to a gas station is dramatic, but it also shows how strict rules can create problems for people handling essential work.
Many people online supported the undertaker. They praised his persistence and said stations should have room to make reasonable exceptions. Others said the incident reflected a wider strain across Thai society, from funeral services to farming.
The video also made one point very clear. Fuel doesn’t only keep cars and trucks moving. It also supports basic services, including the final rites that families want to give their loved ones.
Calls for Practical, Fair Solutions
Preecha urged station operators to look more carefully at cases like his. Temples play an important role in local communities, especially for poorer families. Farmers also can’t simply stop work in the middle of harvest because fuel is hard to find.
Many locals and observers have suggested a few simple steps:
- Clear rules for verified essential uses, such as cremations with paperwork
- Better coordination between stations, temples, and local officials
- Stronger fuel distribution to rural and northern provinces
- Continued checks to stop real hoarding without blocking legitimate needs
Government action has eased some pressure, but many people still remember the long lines and empty pumps. This coffin incident will likely stay with them as a symbol of how deeply fuel shortages can affect everyday life.
Thailand’s fuel problems have shown how closely daily routines are connected. When supply tightens, even something as basic and human as saying goodbye to a loved one can become much harder.
By taking that extraordinary step, the undertaker drew attention to a quiet but painful problem. In a country where compassion and practical thinking often go together, many hope his story leads to more flexible decisions in times of crisis.
