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Explosion at Thailand fireworks warehouse kills at least 12 people

Author
CNN,
Publish Date
Mon, 31 Jul 2023, 3:53pm
People look at the aftermath of destroyed homes after an explosion ripped through a firework warehouse in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on July 29, 2023. Madaree Tohlala/AFP/Getty Images
People look at the aftermath of destroyed homes after an explosion ripped through a firework warehouse in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on July 29, 2023. Madaree Tohlala/AFP/Getty Images

Explosion at Thailand fireworks warehouse kills at least 12 people

Author
CNN,
Publish Date
Mon, 31 Jul 2023, 3:53pm

CNN — At least 12 people were killed and 121 injured in an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand.

The incident – in the village of Mu No – reduced the warehouse and surrounding area to rubble, drone footage showed.

At least two of the victims were children, including a four-year-old boy and a eight-month-old baby girl, according to state run Radio Thailand.

Over a hundred houses were also damaged.

People speak on their phones in front of a house damaged by the explosion.

People speak on their phones in front of a house damaged by the explosion. Kriya Tehtani/AP

A fireman sprays water after the explosion.

A fireman sprays water after the explosion. Kriya Tehtani/AP

The cause of the explosion is under investigation but initial reports suggested there had been a welding error.

Police plan to charge the owner of the warehouse with a criminal offense for “causing the explosion and resulting in people’s deaths and injuries and property damage,” Narathiwat Provincial Police Commander Anuruth Imarb said in a press conference on Sunday.

“I have nothing left,” said Samsueya Chuenchompoo, whose house was destroyed, according to the AFP news agency.

“I don’t even have a roof over my head now. When there was a flood, I still could survive but now I really have nothing left.”

Fireworks accidents are not uncommon in Thailand. Several people were reportedly injured in another blast in the northern city of Chiang Mai earlier this week.

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