Naga Fireballs Explained: Understanding Thailand’s Mysterious Blobs Rising From the Mekong River

Thousands of people visit the border between Thailand and Laos every year to witness a spectacular phenomenon in the Nong Khai province in northeastern Thailand. They gather along a 155-mile (250 kilometers) stretch of the Mekong River to observe the glowing red "fireballs" shooting up into the sky. Famously known as the Naga Fireball Festival, the Bang Fai Phaya Nak is one of the most intriguing celebrations in the country. It is held at the end of Vassa or Buddhist Lent.

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/ J A Forbes)

What are Naga Fireballs?

Naga fireballs are glowing blobs that allegedly arise naturally from the Mekong River and then ascend high into the air. The phenomenon occurs during the moon night, with the light display lasting several minutes.

Witnesses describe the Naga fireballs as reddish blazing balls of light, which range in size from tiny bubbles to basketball-sized orbs. They can shoot up from the water as high as 600 feet (183 meters) before disappearing. They usually appear from mid or late October to early November.

Residents believe the fireballs are formed by the breath of a giant sea serpent called Phaya Naga or Naga. Legend has it that Naga lives in the riverbed and wakes up to observe the end of the Buddhist Lent.

Nagas are shape-shifters described in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. According to Thai folklore, these semi-divine creatures can take up any shape they prefer, whether it is a divine, human form, full serpent, or half-serpent half-human form.

Like the Loch Ness monster, evidence of Naga's existence remains questionable. A "proof" was presented in 1973 where a photo showed 30 American soldiers holding a 24-foot (7.3 meters) long sea serpent. However, the "sea serpent" in the pictures is likely an oarfish that grows long but cannot breathe fire.

Unveiling the Mystery

The exact cause of this phenomenon remains unknown, although several theories are trying to explain this peculiar event.

One of the scientific explanations suggests that these fireballs are produced by swamp gas from the underground decomposition of organic materials. Also known as marsh gas, swamp gas refers to a mixture of methane and smaller amounts of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide found in stagnant bodies of water such as peat bogs, marshes, and mud flats. When methane finds its way out to the surface, it reacts spontaneously with oxygen-rich air, producing a flaming gaseous bubble as it ignites.

A similar theory explains that the Naga fireballs are flammable phosphine gas released by the river's boggy environment. This assumption was proclaimed by a team of scientists led by Saksit Tridech, who used precise equipment to analyze the environment around the river. However, the team could not explain how phosphine gas is produced in nature since it is manufactured only for industrial use through a carefully designed procedure.

Other scientists believe the fireballs could be plasma orbs formed when the surface electricity is discharged into the river's water. But they can also not fully explain this phenomenon because igniting this type of orbs requires an enormous amount of voltage, which is impossible in the Mekong River.