Search Continues for Two Missing in Phayao Forest

A search for two villagers missing and out of contact in the forested area of Chiang Muan district, Phayao province, entered its seventh day on August 14, 2026, with officials and volunteers continuing coordinated efforts after several days of intensive searches. Amid the concern of family members and relatives hoping for a swift discovery, monks, villagers, and rescue teams held a traditional ceremony today, bringing flowers, incense, candles, and offerings of food into the forest to ask forgiveness and blessings from the local spirits, requesting safe passage for the search operation and protection for the missing persons so they may return safely to their families.

The ceremony was attended by Sumeth Kamlue, headman of Chiang Muan subdistrict, and other local officials, in an atmosphere filled with hope and encouragement. After the ritual concluded, rescue teams prepared to resume systematic searches, dividing into units to examine forest trails, suspicious points, and areas where clues about the missing persons might be found, using gathered information to increase the likelihood of locating both individuals.

Despite the passage of several days, officials, villagers, and rescue teams continue full-scale search operations, while families and residents maintain hope of discovering crucial leads and safely returning the two missing persons to their homes. The traditional ceremony honoring local spirits and forest guardians reflects the beliefs and practices of villagers in the area when entering forests or during significant emergencies, particularly searches for people in complex forest terrain, serving both as respect for local beliefs and as a source of encouragement and morale for families, villagers, and rescue teams in their continued efforts to find the missing.