Temple undertaker in Thailand brings corpse to petrol station to prove urgent need for fuel

CHON BURI: A local undertaker went viral after live-streaming bringing his work to a petrol station as proof that he urgently needed fuel. He had previously been denied when he tried to make a purchase of diesel because it was suspected that he would hoard it.

Therefore, he not only took a corpse in a coffin to the petrol station, but also broadcast himself doing so on Facebook Live.

The worker, a Mr Preecha, needed to buy diesel for cremation, since many facilities in Thailand use furnaces that run on diesel. However, the conflict in the Middle East, which started on Feb 28 when the United States and Israel began bombing Iran, has caused a global energy crisis that has left Southeast Asia scrambling for fuel. As a result, facilities that provide cremation services have been left in a bind.

When Mr Preecha, who works at a temple in Ban Bueng district, tried to buy fuel in containers at a petrol station recently, the attendants at a fuel station refused to sell to him. According to the Bangkok Post, they told him that they were rationing fuel due to shortages. Even though he told them he needed diesel for cremation, they still turned him away.

Having worked as a temple undertaker since 2005, when Mr Preecha started, the crematorium he worked for still used charcoal. Later, a switch was made to diesel, which he has been buying at the same petrol station for years. This is the first time he encountered a problem.

The following day, he returned to the station and opened up the back of his truck to show the attendants that there was an occupied coffin inside, telling them of his urgent need for diesel for the line of work he’s in and that he was not hoarding fuel.

The attendant then went off to discuss the matter with his manager, but returned shortly afterwards to tell Mr Preecha they would fill up the three 18-litre jerry cans he brought with diesel, just like he asked.

“This is the first time I’ve had to do something like this. I understand they are trying to prevent stockpiling, but we genuinely need the fuel to carry out cremations,” he was quoted as saying.

While there is not yet nationwide fuel rationing in Thailand,  severe shortages have caused panic buying. An official plan is already in place to conserve energy, which includes rationing, should supply levels grow critical. /TISG

Read also: Driver in Thailand camps out in fuel station to be first to buy petrol amid panic over shortages