Thailand fireworks warehouse explosion kills at least 10 people and injures more than 100

July 29, 2023

A massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand has killed at least nine people and left more than 100 injured.

The authorities believe there are still people trapped under debris waiting to be rescued following the blast in Narathiwat province.

Footage posted on social media showed a huge plume of smoke over the area and many damaged buildings, cars and motorbikes, as well as rubble-strewn streets.

Many of the houses and other properties have collapsed roofs and walls.

Saturday's explosion caused damage across an area of about 500m (1,640ft), officials said.

Around 100 homes were damaged.

Provincial governor Sanan Pongaksorn told local media the blast was likely caused by construction work taking place in the warehouse, with sparks from metal welding causing the fireworks stored inside to ignite.

Eight dead after fireworks explosion in India

Meanwhile, eight people were killed and several others were wounded after an explosion ripped through a fireworks factory in southern India.

The trigger of the blast in the district of Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu state was not immediately known.

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Houses and shops nearby were also damaged, according to the authorities.

Fireworks are very popular in India where they are used in religious festivals and weddings.

There are deadly accidents nearly every year as people work in makeshift factories with little or no safety standards.

In 2018 a massive fire at a firework factory in the capital New Delhi killed 17 workers.

A year earlier, 23 workers were killed in a blast while they were making fireworks in a village in Madhya Pradesh state in central India.

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