Flooded Bang Saphan residents strike gold

Thanakorn Montha (right) and her friends travelled from Bangkok to try their luck panning for gold at Klong Thong canal in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Bang Saphan district. (Photos by Chaiwat Satyam).

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN – A waterway that has long attracted gold panners in Bang Saphan district is drawing new fortune seekers after the recent floods exposed fresh deposits of gold - which local residents see as a fitting return for the misery they suffered.

Klong Thong in tambon Ron Thong has been a good source of income for local people, who have panned for gold there for generations. The gold found along this 5 kilometre long canal is known for its purity, and rated the best quality in the country.

Unfortunately, it has become very hard to find in recent years, and many gold miners have had to seek other work.

But panners suddenly discovered more gold in the bed of Klong Thong after the floodwaters receded recently. Many people are panning gold worth 3,000-4,0000 baht a day. They believe it was uncovered by runoff from the Tanaosri Range following the torrential rain. The water widened sections of the waterway, exposing gold long hidden from sight.

The news spread quickly and the place is now full of villagers trying to turn their fortunes around. Curious tourists also join them, learning how to pan for gold and hoping finding some will be a bonus. Gold traders can now be seen waiting to buy the flakes and nuggets of gold from lucky people.

Prayong Netsangsri, 43, a Ron Thong resident, said that a couple of days ago he had spent a whole day panning for gold, but found just a little of it. Then he found some nuggets on the canal bank, and gathered up 35 hoon, which could be sold for 35,000 baht.

“At first I wasn’t sure, but after I washed them they turned to be real gold. This is the most Bang Saphan gold I’ve ever found. I’m very happy,” Mr Prayong said.

A hoon is a Chinese unit of weight. Each hoon of small gold nuggets can fetch 1,000 baht, while each hoon of gold flakes is worth 800 baht and a hoon of gold dust is 600 baht.

Prayong’s good fortune followed a 39-year-old Ron Thong woman’s discovery of more than two baht weight of gold nuggets in the canal on Dec 15. A goldshop owner offered her 100,000 baht, but the woman decided to keep it for now and sell it later, when she plans to build an extension to her house. The news of her lucky find quickly spread, attracting fortune hunters and setting off a gold rush .

Thanakorn Montha, a visitor from Bangkok in her twenties, said she came with friends to try her hand at panning for gold after she saw news of the Bang Saphan finds on social media.

“Gold panning is not difficult, but it’s not easy either. It requires a lot of patience,” she said. “The local way of gold panning at Bang Saphan is a good thing and it should be preserved properly.”

Below: Gold panners, a gold strike and gold buyers. (Photos by Chaiwat Satyaem):







