Underground Electrical Fault Causes Smoke Scare at Elderly Man's Home
A faulty underground electrical cable and defective breaker caused mysterious smoke and boiling-water sounds at a 72-year-old man's home in Nakhon Ratchasima. Electricity officials cut the power, replaced the breaker, and fixed the issue within 30 minutes, urging the public to report such hazards immediately rather than investigating themselves.
Authorities have identified the cause of mysterious smoke and boiling-water-like sounds emerging from underground at a 72-year-old man's house in Non Thai district, Nakhon Ratchasima. On November 4, reporters detailed the frightening incident at a home in Moo 8, Dan Chak Subdistrict, where the homeowner, Mr. Sutee, 72, discovered plumes of smoke rising from the ground near a banana tree accompanied by loud noises resembling boiling water, alarming residents and neighbors.
The Dan Chak Subdistrict Administrative Organization sent officials to inspect and found the cause was a damaged underground electrical cable. They cut the power at the cut-out switch, stopping the noise and smoke.
Later at midday, Mr. Pichet Sukkasem, an official with the Non Thai District Electricity Office, led a team to re-examine the house's breaker and wiring. They discovered the breaker was faulty, generating heat that melted or burned the wires, causing them to touch the ground wire and produce the smoke. The breaker was replaced, and the problem was fixed in about 30 minutes.
Electricity officials warned the public that if they see smoke rising from the ground or hear unusual sounds near power lines, they should not touch or dig to investigate. They should immediately notify the relevant agencies to prevent danger from leaking electrical current, which can be life-threatening.
