(RepublicanPress.org) – Tragedy struck Thailand in July 2023 when an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Sungai Kolok killed at least 10 people and injured over 100 others. According to the BBC, local Governor Sanon Pongaksorn said the cause was a “technical error” that happened during some construction work. Recently, a similar accident happened again in the Asian country.
On January 17, the Associated Press reported an explosion in Suphan Buri, about 60 miles outside of Bangkok. According to the report, the blast happened at a fireworks factory, killing about 20 people, with 3 still missing. There were reportedly 20 to 30 workers inside the factory at the time of the tragedy. Rescue workers said they had not found any survivors. Sadly, one of the rescue workers with the Samerkun Suphan Buri Rescue Foundation, Kritsada Manee-In, said an exact count was difficult because they were only finding body parts ripped apart by the blast. On January 18, AP News reported that deputy governor Don Samitakestarin put the death toll at 23.
An explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand killed about 20 people on Wednesday, according to provincial officials, though the devastation at the scene has made the death toll uncertain: https://t.co/NNlwX7oMPC
— KOMO News (@komonews) January 17, 2024
According to CNN, police said emergency workers had doused the fire surrounding the warehouse so other first responders could get close to the area and retrieve the remains. Police Colonel Peerapoj Rawangbarn told the news outlet that authorities were still investigating the cause of the incident.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is currently at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was briefed about the horrific loss. Reuters reported that the PM ordered a speedy investigation into the matter to see if any negligence was involved. According to his office, Thavisin promised to enforce the law “to the fullest extent” if the cause was neglect because there were “innocent deaths and injuries” involved. There was no word about how long the investigation would take.
The incident occurred as fireworks demand is at an all-time high in the country, as those in Thailand head toward the Chinese New Year — an event heavily celebrated with fireworks displays. It’s unclear if boosting the supply of fireworks ahead of the celebration had anything to do with the deadly tragedy.
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