Thai Father Devastated After Losing Family in Deadly Border Shelling Near Cambodia
A Thai man is grappling with unimaginable grief after his wife and two children were killed in a cross-border artillery strike between Thailand and Cambodia — the worst escalation of violence between the two nations in over a decade.
40-year-old Komsan Prachan, a farm worker from Sisaket province in northeast Thailand, never imagined that a family trip to a petrol station would end in such tragedy. On 24 July, while returning home with his wife, 14-year-old daughter, 9-year-old son, and the son’s friend after picking the children up from school, the group stopped at a gas station about 3km from their home.
While Komsan waited outside, his family went into the attached 7-Eleven convenience store to grab some snacks. Moments later, an artillery shell fired from Cambodia struck the station, instantly obliterating the store.
A Sudden, Shattering Loss
“All I was thinking then was, my wife and kids,” Komsan told reporters. “I lost all hope. I could only stand and watch.”
The shelling came as part of intense clashes between the Thai and Cambodian militaries over disputed border territory. Both sides have blamed each other for initiating the violence, which has resulted in over 30 civilian deaths and displaced more than 130,000 people.
Komsan said he had heard distant explosions that morning, but assumed his village was a safe zone. “There was no bunker around that area as it was considered safe,” he said.
Having met his wife in high school, the couple later worked together in Bangkok before settling down to raise their children. “Having them in my life was the greatest blessing,” he shared.
Schools Shut, Families Displaced as Clashes Escalate
The fighting has forced numerous schools in the region to shut down, and university campuses are being converted into temporary shelters for those who have fled their homes. Authorities on both sides are under increasing pressure to de-escalate and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
“The war is good for no one,” said Komsan. “They should talk to each other peacefully. The war only brings loss, loss, and loss.”
He also directly accused Cambodian forces of targeting civilian areas. “This is not just war — this is murder.”
Regional Tensions on the Rise
The deadly artillery exchange has alarmed neighbouring countries, with South Korea already raising its travel advisory for the Cambodia-Thailand border region. Meanwhile, global leaders have urged restraint, with peace talks reportedly being considered following warnings of economic sanctions.
As border tensions continue to rise, families like Komsan’s are left picking up the pieces — their lives forever altered by a conflict far beyond their control.
Image Source: REUTERS