29-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Tragedy struck in Thailand on Saturday (Jul 29) as a devastating explosion rocked a firework warehouse in Sungai Kolok, a town located in the southern province of Narathiwat. The incident resulted in the loss of nine lives, and over a hundred individuals sustained injuries, according to a senior official’s report to AFP.
The blast occurred during construction work on the building, and initial investigations suggest that welding operations may have been the cause behind the catastrophic event.
Narathiwat governor, Sanon Pongaksorn, provided further details, stating, “A warehouse storing firecrackers in Sungai Kolok exploded this afternoon, the latest number is nine dead and 115 injured.”
Efforts to bring the situation under control were made, and authorities confirmed that the fire had been contained. As the investigations continue, it appears that a technical error during the steel welding process might have triggered the explosion, given that the building was still under construction.
Dramatic footage captured by local media showcased a massive plume of smoke billowing into the sky, while the aftermath revealed extensive damage to nearby shops, homes, and vehicles. Some structures were engulfed in flames, while others had their roofs blown off.
An eyewitness, Seksan Taesen, who resides just 100 meters away from the warehouse, shared his terrifying experience, stating, “I was playing with my phone inside the house then suddenly, I heard a loud, thunderous noise and my whole house shook. Then I saw my roof was wide open. I looked outside and I saw a house collapsing and people lying on the ground everywhere. It was chaos.”
This tragic incident underscores concerns about safety in the construction sector in Thailand. Deadly accidents have been a recurring problem, and last month, two fatalities occurred when a road bridge under construction in Bangkok collapsed.
#BREAKING #Thailand At least nine people were killed today and more than 130 were injured in a powerful explosion that went off in a pyrotechnics warehouse in the city of Su-ngai Kolok in Thailand. pic.twitter.com/Z2ANopqJeO
— National Independent (@NationalIndNews) July 29, 2023
Warning: Graphic video.
Ninety people were injured, and four people were reportedly killed by an explosion at a firecracker storage warehouse in Su-ngai Kolok, Narathiwat.
Vid via @jayz42400117#Thailand #โกดังพลุระเบิด #นราธิวาส #ตลาดมูโนะ pic.twitter.com/opf50FM5EH
— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) July 29, 2023
