Man Burns Down His Own Home After Ghost Hallucination

CHAIYAPHUM — On 15 February 2026, a 58-year-old man set fire to his own home in northeastern Thailand after experiencing hallucinations about spirits inside, completely destroying the property, officials reported. The fire broke out around 01:30 at a house in Ban Don Changae village, Moo 11, Ban Phet subdistrict, Bamnet Narong district, Chaiyaphum province. Local firefighters and rescue workers took approximately 45 minutes to control the flames and prevent them from spreading to neighboring homes. The homeowner, Uthai Chamthuam, was identified as the suspect who allegedly started the fire and then fled the scene. Authorities later learned that Uthai has a history of psychiatric illness and had been recently discharged from the hospital. According to his relatives, he was experiencing hallucinations and believed spirits were inside his home, which prompted him to set the fire in an attempt to drive them away. Uthai was eventually detained at a friend's house and returned to Bamnet Narong Hospital for further treatment. The two-story wooden house was completely destroyed, with initial damage estimated at around 100,000 baht (approximately £2,200). No injuries were reported during the incident.