THE intensifying US-Israel war on Iran led to residents of Mai Sai district in Chiang Rai province and Myanmar citizens rushing to fill up their vehicles and stockpile fuel with there being long queues at petrol pumps, Amarin TV said today (March 3).
Vehicles with both Thai and Myanmar licence plates were seen in the queues stretching out of the patrol pumps at this northern district with Gasohol 95 completely sold out, while Gasohol 91 and diesel remained available.
Some of those patiently waiting at petrol pumps said that it was the war in the Middle East that led to panic buying as people fear fuel prices will rise and shortages could occur. Many were not just filling up but had also brough containers to buy extra for future use if need be.
War fears were not just restricted to Mai Sai with similar stockpiling taking place just across the border in Tachilek province, Myanmar, leading to a shortage there as well.
This has also led to small retailers, who mostly sell fuel in 1-litre or 1.25-litre soft drink bottles, raising their price from around 50-60 baht per bottle to 130 baht.
Residents of Nakhon Sawan are also dashing to fill up their vehicles and buy extra fuel in various containers after the price of some brands of diesel was increased by 4.20 baht per litre today.
War fears were especially strong in Banphot Phisai district with residents bringing cars, motorcycles, and even trucks loaded with various types of containers, including 200-liter ones, to buy fuel and stock up. Some had to queue up for hours since morning before their turn came.
Mr. Saneh Somjit, a resident of this district, said he normally uses several hundred litres of fuel each day to run agricultural equipment and for daily use. Upon hearing that some brands of gasoline had increased the price by more than 4 baht per litre, people rushed to stock up supplies, fearing that other brands would follow suit.
Most people reflected that petrol price increase directly impacted their cost of living and business operations, particularly farmers and transportation companies which require large quantities of fuel.
Meanwhile, some petrol pump owners are preparing to limit purchases to 200 litres per person per transaction to prevent excessive hoarding.
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Below and Front Page – Both Thai and Myanmar citizens wait patiently at petrol pumps to fill up their vehicles in Chaing Rai’s Mae Sai district.
Top and inserted – Long queues at petrol pumps in Nakhon Sawan’s Banphot Phisai district. All photos – Amarin TV
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