MAE AI, Chiang Mai – Three primary school students who disappeared from their dormitory at Rajaprajanugroh 30 School were discovered hiding in a nearby cemetery on Monday evening, ending a tense 40-hour search operation.

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The girls—Natnicha Phiewkaew, 7; Jomkhwan Siamlai, 9; and Kamonnit Wilai, 9—were last seen on CCTV footage walking past Wat Mae Ai Luang temple and Mae Ai Fresh Market around 1 a.m. on Sunday. Authorities initially suspected they had headed toward neighboring villages, but search teams—including police, soldiers, and rescue workers—failed to locate them during an early morning sweep of the cemetery.

A police source revealed the girls likely hid when they heard rescuers approaching, only emerging later due to hunger. A vigilant local resident spotted them in the late afternoon and immediately notified authorities, who safely retrieved the children.

Acting Sub-Lieutenant Thanu Wongchinda, Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, confirmed that a fact-finding committee has been formed to investigate the incident. He disclosed that this was not the girls’ first dormitory escape attempt, raising urgent questions about the school’s supervision and security measures.

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The case has sparked concerns over child safety protocols in boarding schools, with officials vowing to review policies to prevent future incidents. Parents and community members expressed relief at the girls’ safe return but demanded accountability from school administrators.

Further updates are expected as the investigation unfolds.

-Thailand News (TN)