Photo Courtesy Agence France-Presse
Bangkok, Thailand – A devastating explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Sungai Kolok, a town in the border province of Narathiwat, southern Thailand, has resulted in at least nine fatalities and over 100 injuries, according to a senior official. The blast, suspected to have been triggered by welding during construction work on the building, also caused significant damage to nearby homes and properties. Narathiwat governor Sanan Pongaksorn reported, “A warehouse storing firecrackers in Sungai Kolok exploded this afternoon, the latest number is nine dead and 115 injured.”
The preliminary investigation suggests that the blast was a result of a technical error during the steel welding process, given the ongoing construction activities. The massive explosion caused extensive destruction in the vicinity of the warehouse. Local media footage depicted a massive plume of smoke rising into the sky, as numerous shops, homes, and vehicles bore the brunt of the force—many structures ablaze, and roofs blown off. While some media sources are reporting a death toll of 10, the figure remains unconfirmed. Images captured by AFP at the scene reveal the warehouse reduced to rubble and twisted metal.
The Ministry of Interior, as reported by the Bangkok Post, indicated that up to 200 houses were damaged by the blast in the border town, near the Malaysian frontier. Other outlets speculated that the number of affected homes could be as high as 500. Eyewitness Seksan Taesen, living around 100 meters away from the warehouse, recounted the terrifying moment of the explosion, stating, “I was playing with my phone inside the house then suddenly I heard a loud, thunderous noise and my whole house shook.” The aftermath presented a chaotic scene, with houses collapsing and people lying on the ground. Emergency services rushed to the site to aid those affected.
Explosions at facilities producing fireworks and other pyrotechnics are not uncommon in Thailand. This tragedy occurred only five days after 11 people were injured in a fireworks factory explosion in Chiang Mai. Thailand has also grappled with safety issues in the construction sector, leading to frequent deadly accidents. Just last month, two individuals were killed when a bridge under construction in Bangkok collapsed into traffic. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the explosion in Sungai Kolok and working to provide support and assistance to the affected families and communities.
