AYUTTHAYA, Thailand – What began as a tranquil afternoon of sightseeing at one of Thailand’s most revered historical sites turned to chaos on August 16 when a massive flame tree collapsed onto a group of tourists at Wat Phra Si Sanphet, injuring five Spanish nationals and sending shockwaves through the ancient capital’s temple grounds. The towering royal poinciana, estimated to be several decades old, gave way at approximately 12:30 p.m. near the temple’s perimeter wall, crashing down on visitors who had gathered in the area to admire the centuries-old monuments that define Ayutthaya’s UNESCO-listed heritage zone, Thailand News reported.
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The sudden collapse left two men and three women wounded, with a 55-year-old Spanish man sustaining the most severe injuries, including fractured ribs on his right side and a double fracture to his left leg, while the remaining four tourists suffered body and leg wounds along with abrasions. Rescue workers from the Phutthaisawan Foundation, supported by police and fellow tourists who rushed to the scene, worked frantically to lift heavy branches from those pinned beneath the fallen tree before emergency teams arrived to transport the injured to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a distinct cracking sound emanating from the tree moments before it gave way, followed by a thunderous crash that sent visitors scrambling in all directions. Bystanders immediately began pulling branches off the injured tourists, their quick actions preventing further harm before professional rescuers could take over the operation. The scene, once filled with the quiet reverence of sightseers, was transformed into a frantic rescue effort that highlighted both the dangers posed by aging trees and the community’s willingness to respond in times of crisis.
Investigators later determined that the flame tree’s interior had become hollow and decayed over time, severely compromising its structural integrity and ultimately causing the collapse. Officials noted that the tree had shown no visible external signs of distress, making the incident all the more alarming for park administrators and tour operators who regularly bring visitors to the site. Wat Phra Si Sanphet, which draws thousands of international tourists daily, including day-trippers from Bangkok, now faces renewed scrutiny over the maintenance and inspection of its centuries-old landscape.
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In the aftermath, workers cleared debris from the area while authorities conducted thorough inspections of other large trees throughout the temple complex to identify any similar risks. The incident has reignited calls for more rigorous and regular safety checks at historical sites across Thailand, with experts urging that aging trees be assessed not only for their aesthetic and historical value but also for the potential danger they may pose to the millions of visitors who pass through these sacred spaces each year.
