Fuel shortage sees Kamphaeng Phet residents queue overnight

2026-03-23 - 09:51

KAMPHAENG PHET — 22 March 2026, Residents, many of them farmers, camped overnight outside a petrol station as fuel demand surged, with some saying they feared missing out more than mosquito bites. Large crowds gathered at a PT petrol station from the evening bringing containers, mats and pillows to secure a place in line while awaiting a fuel delivery. The station imposed emergency measures to ration supply, limiting purchases to no more than 3,000 baht per vehicle or container to ensure broader distribution. Officials said only about 4,000 litres of fuel were expected to arrive, far short of demand. Customers who missed out despite holding membership cards were offered 100 bonus points as compensation after supplies ran out before their turn. The shortage has hit farmers particularly hard, forcing them to wait for hours, while other residents have also had to adjust to long queues and uncertainty over access to fuel. One resident joked: “I’m not afraid of mosquitoes, I’m afraid of not getting fuel.” Station staff have also come under strain, managing long queues and explaining restrictions to frustrated customers as they await incoming deliveries aimed at easing the shortage.