ATM Spits Out Not Only Cash But Also a Snake – Thai Woman Nearly Bitten While Withdrawing Money

A bizarre and frightening incident occurred in Thailand’s Surin Province, when a woman was withdrawing money from an ATM and saw a venomous snake emerging from the cash dispenser together with the banknotes, startling her into quickly stepping back and not daring to approach. Ultimately, both the cash and the snake were retracted by the machine. Police arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area as they began their investigation.

The incident happened at around 9 a.m. on the 24th, outside a bank in the Lamduan district of Surin Province. The victim, a female nurse, was planning to withdraw 900 baht (~117 ringgit) when, as the machine dispensed the money, a snake suddenly sprang out of the slot, entangled with the banknotes. Terrified, she immediately stepped back and did not dare reach for her money, watching helplessly as the dispenser automatically closed, swallowing both the cash and the snake back inside.

The police arrived at the scene and found that a 100-baht note (~13 ringgit) was still protruding from the dispenser, while the remaining 800 baht (~104 ringgit) had been pulled back into the machine. Their preliminary assessment identified the snake as most likely the highly venomous “Malayan pit viper” (also known as the red-headed krait). Its venom can destroy the blood system, causing severe swelling, bleeding, and shock within 10 minutes of being bitten. If not promptly treated, it can be fatal.

Police immediately cordoned off the area to prevent the public from approaching and notified bank technicians to come and open the ATM and “catch the snake.” However, by the time technicians arrived and opened the machine in the afternoon, the snake was nowhere to be found, leaving lingering concerns.

It is reported that the Malayan pit viper is widely distributed across Southeast Asia and is among the most common and dangerous venomous snakes in Thailand. It is adept at hiding in damp and dark artificial environments, such as rubber plantations, warehouses, and mechanical equipment. For one to emerge from an ATM on a busy street is extremely rare and shockingly dangerous.

Authorities suspect that the snake may have crawled into the ATM to seek shade or due to changes in the weather.

The police have now requested that the bank suspend operations of the ATM and have sent specialists to conduct a thorough inspection to ensure public safety.