Naga Fireballs Draw Huge Crowds to Thailand's Mekong River

NONG KHAI, Oct 8 (TNA) - Hundreds of thousands of tourists gathered along the Mekong River in Thailand's Nong Khai province to witness the Naga Fireballs on Wednesday night, marking the end of Buddhist Lent.

The mysterious reddish-pink fireballs, which many believe are expelled by the mythical Naga serpent, began rising from the river shortly after 6:30 p.m., much to the excitement of the crowds.

The display was particularly intense in Rattanawapi District, the renowned hotspot. Authorities estimate 100,000 to 150,000 people attended the event across the province. Last year, 299 of the 371 total fireballs recorded in the Nong Khai-Bueng Kan area appeared in Rattanawapi, making it the primary viewing location.

Nong Khai promotes the spectacle as a strategic effort to boost cultural tourism and develop the region's soft power.

Despite long-standing skepticism and arguments that the fireballs are man-made, the mass faith remains strong. The influx of spectators resulted in fully booked riverside hotels, generating an estimated hundreds of millions of baht in revenue. -819 (TNA)