Bangkok: There is still no sign of "Hlun Solo," a popular YouTuber who has been missing in Georgia for over half a month. His family has performed traditional rituals and are appealing to the public for help in the search.
According to Thai News Agency, the disappearance of "Nong Hlun," or Bowornthat, a 25-year-old travel influencer and YouTuber with over 2.5 million followers on Facebook, 1.2 million on TikTok, and nearly a million on YouTube, has become a major news story and a hot topic online. His family and fans are actively sharing posts to search for him. He has been missing for over 15 days after traveling alone to Georgia to create travel content on July 13th. His grandmother, family, and fans are concerned, leading the family to perform a traditional Thai blessing ceremony to pray for his safety.
Reporters traveled to Hlun's hometown, Ban Si Yaek, Village No. 10, Somdet Subdistrict, Somdet District, Kalasin Province, where Hlun Solo Co., Ltd. is located. The atmosphere was tense. The family is urgently coordinating with the Department of Consular Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the embassy to locate Hlun and bring him home. They also expressed gratitude for the power of social media in sharing the news.
Ms. Bowornlak, 28, the older sister of Hlun, clarified that the news circulating on some pages claiming that her brother had been found is untrue. She stated that they are currently unable to contact him and are awaiting urgent coordination from consular officials.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sompong, 62, the uncle of Nong Hlun, revealed that before his nephew went missing, everything seemed normal. Previously, every time his nephew left home, he would send news within a week about his location and activities to reassure his fans. This time, however, the lack of contact has persisted too long. He suspects that Hlun might have gone to film content in remote or risky areas without phone signal to provide a new perspective for his fans. He also thanked the Somdet District Chief and all the agencies that have provided assistance.
"Hlun Solo" is an influencer known for his resilience, serving as an example of someone who never gives up on their dreams. Growing up with his grandmother after his parents separated, he struggled to make ends meet, working in a factory for 300 baht a day. He persevered in his studies, eventually getting accepted to Chulalongkorn University, and saved money to backpack solo, visiting over 17 countries in a year. He successfully created a travel channel with millions of views.
Hlun's older brother, through the Klose Mos page, posted a message in both Thai and English, requesting help from Thais in Georgia or anyone with information, no matter how small, to report it to the Klose Mos page or his sister's page to increase the chances of finding Hlun and bringing him home safely.