Residents of Payathonzu Township, located on the Thai-Myanmar border, are facing a severe drinking water shortage after the Thai government cut off electricity to the area, local sources report.
In an effort to crack down on online scam operations run by Chinese nationals, the Thai government disconnected electricity, fuel supplies, and internet access to five border locations, including Payathonzu, starting February 5.
Following the power cut, water purification plants in Payathonzu ceased operations, leaving the entire town struggling to access clean drinking water, a local resident said.
“Without electricity, the water purification plants cannot function. Now, clean drinking water is scarce. This is the biggest challenge we are facing,” the resident explained.
To address the crisis, Myapan Company, the electricity provider for Payathonzu, is planning to use generators and solar power to resume water purification plant operations, a company representative told IMNA.
“For now, our priority is restoring water supply. Since fuel is also unavailable, we cannot fully restore electricity across the town. The main concern for residents is drinking water, so we will use generators and solar power to restart water purification. However, without fuel, we are unable to restore full electricity distribution,” the company official said.
The electricity and fuel cuts by the Thai government have affected not only the town’s water supply but also the local economy, with businesses suffering from power outages.
“If this power cut continues, businesses will come to a halt. This is a major hardship for local residents. People understand the crackdown on online scams, but cutting electricity like this is not the right approach. Fuel and internet cuts have had minimal impact, but the electricity shutdown has caused serious difficulties,” another resident commented.
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), which has significant ties to the Chinese-run online scam operations in Payathonzu, announced on February 9 that it would make every effort to restore electricity and fuel supplies from Thailand as soon as possible.
Additionally, DKBA has issued a directive for all Chinese nationals engaged in illegal businesses—including unlicensed food sales, casino operations, and gaming centers—to leave Payathonzu by February 28.
The group also pledged to take strict action to prevent further illegal online financial fraud and gambling activities in the area and to curb any additional unauthorized Chinese migration into Payathonzu.
