Durian Orchard Fire Destroys Crops Worth 300,000 Baht
A fire destroyed over 70 durian trees worth 300,000 baht at a Phatthalung orchard on August 10, with the owner suspecting arson due to an ongoing land dispute with a neighbor.
A durian orchard owner in Phatthalung province has filed a complaint with police after a fire destroyed over 70 trees and other fruit plants valued at more than 300,000 baht on August 10, 2024. Theeratep and Naiyana, the owners, suspect the fire was intentionally set, as the blaze occurred in an area near a neighbor's property with whom they have had an ongoing conflict. The dispute began when the neighbor objected to the owners' land improvements and constructed an unauthorized structure on public land. After the Quanmaphrao subdistrict municipality ordered the structure removed within 30 days, tensions escalated, leading to verbal abuse and the neighbor throwing guava fruit at Theeratep, causing injury. When the orchard caught fire at midday, locals and municipal firefighters extinguished it, but Theeratep believes it was deliberately set due to the fire's proximity to the neighbor's house. He has filed a report with Muang Phatthalung police for investigation.
