Chaos! Hundreds of Drug Rehabilitation Patients Flee Treatment Center; Authorities Intensify Manhunt
About 500 patients fled a drug rehabilitation center in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on May 6 after leaders forced open a door during a power outage, though all were accounted for by afternoon with 30 safely returning home.
At 7:20 a.m. on May 6, 2025, Radio 191 received reports of a disturbance at the drug rehabilitation center in Kaew Saen subdistrict, Na Bon district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, with approximately 500 patients attempting to escape. Police and officials from various agencies were dispatched to the scene, with Deputy Region 8 Police Commander Ponchai Khachakl and Na Bon District Police Commander's deputy Khajit Kongprab arriving to oversee the situation personally.
Initial investigations revealed no injuries or clear property damage. Officers were actively pursuing escapees while monitoring the surrounding area to prevent harm to local residents. Deputy Na Bon Police Commander Kasamsit Champathong confirmed that authorities were urgently resolving the situation and called on local residents to report any suspicious individuals.
By 1:00 p.m., Na Bon District Chief Virapan Sukawalli reported the situation had returned to normal, with all rehabilitation patients accounted for. Thirty had safely returned home, while others were being reunited with their families.
Investigations determined that approximately 10 core leaders, placed in the program for nearly a year by family members who refused to pick them up, had planned the escape. When the power went out in the early morning, they forced open the door seeking to leave and go home—not causing serious damage or destruction. When others saw the open door, they also exited. Authorities concluded the incident stemmed from stress related to confinement rather than violence.
