Thailand to probe fireworks plant blast

MUEANG SUPHAN BURI, Thailand — Rescue workers carried out the grim task on Thursday of recovering the remains of the 23 apparent victims of a fireworks factory explosion in central Thailand.

Thai authorities said they will take time to investigate the cause of the blast.

Only part of the building frame stood at the site of the devastated factory in an otherwise empty rice field in rural Suphan Buri Province the day after the blast.

Photos posted on social media showed a thick plume of black smoke over the scene. Photos posted online by rescue workers showed the factory site virtually leveled.

The office of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who was in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, distributed a video showing him being told over the phone by the regional police commander that there were 20 to 30 workers at the factory at the time of the explosion and that none of them could be found.

Don Samitakestarin, the province's deputy governor, said the death toll was 23 and not expected to rise.

The cause of the blast has not been determined. Don said it will take time to investigate the cause as there were no survivors to tell what happened.

Cholnan Srikaew, minister of public health, has visited the site to offer condolences and support to the families of the victims. "The priority task is to give psychological support to the families of the victims," he said.

Authorities were in the process of identifying the deceased individuals, and the investigation into the cause was ongoing.

Providing compensation

Kriang Kaltinan, deputy interior minister, revealed that the government is cooperating with various agencies to provide compensation.

The government will pay a maximum compensation of 300,000 baht ($8,400) for each affected household, Don said.

It was believed that the 23 workers were assembling the fireworks when suddenly there was an explosion, flattening the factory and killing all of them.

Don said the factory had met the requirements for operating legally. It had an earlier explosion in November 2022 that killed one person and seriously injured three others, but Don said there was no regulation that could prevent it from obtaining a new permit.

Suphan Buri, where the explosion happened, is about 95 kilometers northwest of Bangkok in the heart of Thailand's rice-growing region.

In July, a large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 100, according to officials.

Yang Wanli in Bangkok contributed to this story.

Agencies Via Xinhua