Fiery havoc, trashed fields: Chiang Mai’s Loy Krathong 2019 in review (Photos)

Some of the damages caused by krathong lanterns include setting street decorations and cables on fire. Photo: CM108.com
Some of the damages caused by krathong lanterns include setting street decorations and cables on fire. Photo: CM108.com

Every year in early November, officials plead for people not to launch flaming lanterns into the sky anywhere airports, trees, cables or basically anywhere that’s not an open field. 

But come Loy Krathong, the candle-powered airships take to the skies to only be stopped, in too many cases, by architecture and infrastructure, or even just come down in open spaces where they leave paper and plastic waste all over.

Do we really have to remind you again that lanterns and airplanes don’t mix, AOT asks

Especially in Chiang Mai – where the Yee Peng lantern festival also took place last night – where Tuesday morning dawned to garbage-strewn fields and a lot of ruined power lines. 

If these festivals are about honoring nature spirits, it seems their response is clear: Knock it off.

Here’s just a few of the incidents shared online by the JS100 of the Lannalands:

Early Christmas? Cables ablaze after a flaming lantern became entangled. Photo: CM108.com
Early Christmas? Cables ablaze after a flaming lantern became entangled. Photo: CM108.com
That’s No Moon: A lantern stuck in some cables. Photo: CM108.com
That’s No Moon: A lantern stuck in some cables. Photo: CM108.com
Poser: A lit lantern gets stuck alongside official street decorations. Photo: CM108.com
Poser: A lit lantern gets stuck alongside official street decorations. Photo: CM108.com
Raining Used Condoms: A field littered with fallen lanterns. Photo: CM108.com
Raining Used Condoms: A field littered with fallen lanterns. Photo: CM108.com

Really Guys? Several lanterns fell on the runway at the Chiang Mai International Airport days after its annual, please-don’t beg-fest. Photo: Agency North public News
Really Guys? Several lanterns fell on the runway at the Chiang Mai International Airport days after its annual, please-don’t beg-fest. Photo: Agency North public News
Twinkle, Sizzle, Little Star: Pedestrians marvel at a lantern stuck in some cables along a busy market street. Photo: Rodjanapohng Kumsaeng / Facebook
Twinkle, Sizzle, Little Star: Pedestrians marvel at a lantern stuck in some cables along a busy market street. Photo: Rodjanapohng Kumsaeng / Facebook

Related:

Bangkok retrieves 40% less flowery rubbish in annual cleanup tradition

Bangkok man makes, floats and eats BBQ float for Loy Krathong Eve (Photos)

Do we really have to remind you again that lanterns and airplanes don’t mix, AOT asks

Copyright predator targeted other crafty Korat girls: minister

Korat schoolgirl making 17-baht krathongs says agent duped her into violating copyright



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