By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with africanews.com
Published on 2024-01-17 16:26:31
An explosion at a firework factory in central Thailand has resulted in a tragic loss of at least 20 lives, according to a rescue worker. The exact number of casualties is still unclear, but an estimated 15 to 17 people have been reported dead. Kritsada Manee-In, a rescue worker with the Samerkun Suphan Buri Rescue Foundation, provided these numbers in the aftermath of the blast.
The cause of the explosion, which took place in a rural area in Suphan Buri province, approximately 120km north of Bangkok, is yet to be determined. The incident has prompted Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is currently attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to call for a swift investigation after being briefed about the situation over a phone call.
This tragic event occurred just weeks before the upcoming Chinese New Year in February, a time when demand for fireworks typically increases. This surge in demand may have contributed to the scale of the explosion. Notably, this is not the first incident of this nature in Thailand. In July of last year, a large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand claimed the lives of at least 10 people and left more than 100 others injured.
The aftermath of the explosion has left the local community and the entire country in mourning. The loss of life and the circumstances surrounding the incident have once again brought attention to the safety and regulation of fireworks production and storage. As the authorities work to determine the cause of the explosion and assess the extent of the damage, the focus remains on supporting the affected families and preventing future tragedies of this nature.
