NAKHON SAWAN, THAILAND – A young boy from Krok Phra district lived alone in a dilapidated wooden house after his grandfather’s death in early January, as neighbors warned the structure could collapse and officials pledged to secure him a new home.
Alone in an old wooden house
Reporters found Akkaraphol Chamnankasikon, known as “Nice,” living by himself in an aging wooden house in Ban Khao Tham Phra village in Moo 8.
According to relatives, the fifth-grade pupil at Khao Tham Phra School had been raised solely by his grandfather, who died in early January after an illness.
Family gone, mother absent for years
Family members said the boy’s father had died earlier, while his mother left and started a new household when Nice was only one year old.
A cousin, Wacharin Chamruai (34), said the boy had not seen his mother for more than a decade.
“She did show up briefly at the grandfather’s funeral, but she did not stay.”
said Wacharin, a cousin.
Danger in wind and rain
The house was described as badly run-down, with a rear support post visibly leaning forward. The corrugated metal roof leaked in several places, letting in water during rainfall.
Residents feared the structure could give way in strong winds or storms, while the boy himself saw the building’s instability and nighttime rain damage as his greatest worry.
Everyday life of a fifth-grader without care
Nice said he woke up every day at 6:00 a.m., washed clothes, did the dishes, completed housework and then rode his bicycle to school in time for the morning flag ceremony.
After class, he sometimes visited friends or ate with relatives, returning only at dusk, when it became very dark and quiet around the house, which made him feel uneasy.
Help slowly starts to arrive
Out of concern for his safety, an uncle had begun occasionally staying overnight with him, the boy said.
The case became known after a local provincial councilor shared the story online, prompting members of the public to offer support.
Politicians promise a new home
A member of parliament later visited the boy and coordinated with the local Subdistrict Administrative Organisation on plans to build a new house.
For his daily needs, Nice said he earned some money on weekends when an uncle took him along to dig up plants, making about 150 baht per day, and relatives helped occasionally when that was not enough, though only to a limited extent.
Your view
The case of a child left alone in a dangerous house after a death in the family highlighted how quickly social networks in rural areas could unravel.
The report raised the question of whether the state and municipalities should intervene more quickly in such situations, or whether community help should remain the first line of support.