17-6-2024 (BANGKOK) A shocking incident unfolded in Ban Sang Bu, a village in the Tambon Sri Sawang area of Phon Thong district, on Sunday evening when a homemade rocket intended for a traditional rain-seeking ceremony went terribly awry. The malfunctioning rocket failed to launch properly and instead exploded amidst the gathered crowd, leaving a trail of chaos and injuries in its wake.
According to eyewitness accounts, the traditional “Bang Fai” rocket, designed to summon rainfall from a deity, was ignited around 5 pm on Sunday. However, instead of soaring into the sky as intended, the rocket exploded unexpectedly on its launching stand. In a frightening turn of events, the rocket then veered off course, plunging directly into the crowd of spectators before detonating once again.
The shocking incident triggered a frantic response from rescue workers, who rushed to provide aid to the injured. A total of 37 people sustained injuries, many of them serious, ranging from head trauma to limb injuries. The severity of the wounds was such that several victims were immediately transferred to Roi Et Hospital, with some reported to be unconscious or suffering from fractured limbs, ribs, or skulls.
Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene, recounting how the second explosion, as the rocket careened into the crowd, was responsible for the majority of the injuries.
The Bang Fai rockets, a traditional part of the local culture, are typically launched during this time of year with the intention of invoking rainfall from a revered deity. In modern times, these rocket launches have evolved into contests, with the rockets, largely constructed from PVC pipes, judged based on their airborne duration.
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