BANGKOK, Jan 18 – The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks factory in Suphan Buri, approximately 120 km north of Bangkok, has risen to 23, with six reported injured.
The Suphan Buri Public Health Office said the deceased were 12 women and eight men, while three others could not be identified in the incident at 3.30 pm (local time) Wednesday.
Besides that, six people were injured.
Local media reported that there are 30 workers at the fireworks factory.
Photos and videos circulated online revealing the devastating aftermath of the explosion at the factory located near a rice field with debris and body parts scattered.
National police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol said the cause of the explosion is not immediately clear.
He said there was an explosion at the same factory which caused one death and seriously injured three others in November 2022.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Davos was briefed on the explosion.
He has ordered swift investigation and a thorough inspection of the plant to investigate whether it was operating legally and to determine if the explosion was caused by negligence.
He also urged the authorities to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the explosion.
In July last year, 12 people died and 300 were injured in the explosion incident at the fireworks storage warehouse in Sungai Kolok town in southern province of Narathiwat.
More than 3,000 people from 681 households were impacted by the explosion, which also resulted in the destruction of 41 cars and 27 motorcycles.
