Tachilek residents scramble to buy fuel after power cut

Tachilek residents rushed to buy petrol after Thailand cut power to the Myanmar border town. Many stocked up on fuel for generators, while some crossed into Thailand for supplies. Some areas remained unaffected, having switched to electricity from Laos.

Residents of Tachilek, a town in Myanmar’s Shan State, rushed to buy petrol on Wednesday morning after Thailand cut off electricity to the border town.

Tachilek is one of five Myanmar border areas affected by the National Security Council’s order to halt power supply in an effort to disrupt Chinese call-centre gangs operating in the region.

By 10 am, many residents were seen driving cars and motorcycles to petrol stations, carrying containers to stock up on fuel. The petrol was believed to be intended for small electricity generators to provide power at night.

Tachilek is home to several hotels and government offices, many of which are known to have their own power generators. Long queues formed at several petrol stations as residents sought to secure fuel supplies.

Meanwhile, Myanmar residents with travel documents crossed the First Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge to buy petrol and food on the Thai side.

Despite the Thai government’s power cut, some Tachilek residents reported being unaffected, as their areas had already transitioned to using electricity from Laos.

(2025/02/05-00:00)