BANGKOK, Thailand – A tragic explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand resulted in the deaths of approximately 20 people on Wednesday. The devastation at the scene, however, has created uncertainty regarding the exact death toll of the incident. The mid-afternoon blast, which occurred in Suphan Buri, about 95 kilometers northwest of Bangkok, has left the local authorities struggling to confirm the number of casualties. The initial announcement by the provincial government’s information office stated that 23 people had died, but this figure was later revised to 19 dead and three missing. Meanwhile, the national Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation had previously reported at least 20 fatalities.
Images circulated on social media displaying a thick plume of black smoke rising from the scene. Additionally, photos posted by local rescue workers depicted the factory site as virtually leveled flat. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is currently in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, was briefed over the phone by the regional police commander. The commander informed the Prime Minister that there were approximately 20 to 30 workers at the factory at the time of the explosion, and unfortunately, none of them could be located. Contradicting statements from provincial authorities and the disaster department emerged, with the former mentioning no survivors and the latter claiming that wounded people had been found.
Recovery efforts at the scene were hindered by the gruesome nature of the incident, as many of the bodies were in pieces, making it difficult to provide an exact count of the casualties. The explosion is particularly distressing as it occurred less than a month before Chinese New Year, a period of high demand for fireworks. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation by the national disaster agency. It was also revealed by the national police chief that a previous explosion had occurred at the same factory in November 2022, resulting in the death of one worker and severe injuries to three others. Legal action will be pursued for any negligence or misconduct involved in the recent tragedy.
This devastating incident is reminiscent of a similar explosion that took place in July last year at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand. The explosion claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals and left more than 100 others injured, damaging around 100 houses within a 500-meter radius. It was suspected that the blast was ignited by construction work in the warehouse, with sparks from metal welding causing the fireworks stored inside to catch fire and explode. The frequency of such incidents underscores the urgent need for strict safety measures and regulations within the fireworks industry.