Tragedy at Historic Temple: 4 Spanish Tourists Injured as Tree Collapses at Wat Phra Si Sanphet

AYUTTHAYA, Thailand — A peaceful cultural excursion turned into a sudden emergency on Sunday, August 16, 2026 after a large tree collapsed onto a group of sightseers at the historic Wat Phra Si Sanphet temple complex in Ayutthaya Province, leaving four Spanish tourists injured.

The unexpected incident occurred at approximately 12:30 PM within the UNESCO World Heritage site, sending emergency responders from local foundations and hospital medical teams rushing to the scene.

According to local authorities and witness accounts, the visitors were part of a 20-person Spanish family group touring the ancient temple grounds when a massive "peacock tree" suddenly snapped near its base and crashed down onto a nearby pedestrian pathway. The sudden fall trapped several individuals under heavy branches, causing widespread alarm among surrounding tourists and locals.

Rescue workers from the Ruamkatanyu and Phutthaisawan foundations quickly arrived to clear debris using specialized cutting equipment, freeing those trapped beneath the wreckage. First responders administered initial aid on-site before transferring all four casualties to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital.

"Upon arrival, we found Spanish tourists lying on the ground with tree branches on top of them. Our teams immediately cleared the heavy foliage to rescue the victims and facilitate urgent medical care."— Kitisak Mathong, Ruamkatanyu Foundation Representative

Hospital personnel admitted the victims to undergo treatment for varying degrees of trauma. Three women suffered moderate to minor injuries and remain under observation, while a 55-year-old male tourist sustained severe injuries, including two broken ribs on his right side and two fractures to his left leg.

Preliminary examinations revealed that the tree's trunk was hollow and severely decayed at the base; with no strong wind or rain at the time, officials attributed the sudden collapse to internal structural failure. In response, Ayutthaya provincial authorities ordered an immediate safety inspection of all large ancient trees across the historic park, deploying arborists to prune and evaluate aged flora to prevent future accidents.

Provincial officials and tourist police are coordinating closely with the Spanish Embassy and the victims' family members to provide full logistical and medical support during their recovery.