An explosion at a fireworks business in the Suphan Buri district of central Thailand has left twenty people dead.

The explosion occurred on January 17, 2023, at around 3:00 p.m., close to Sala Khao Township.

According to Colonel Theerapoj Rawangban, there are ongoing efforts to ascertain the exact number of casualties, if any, and the number of people that have died since the severity of the incident.

Rawangban also added that the cause of the explosion was still unknown.

“Authorities have launched investigations into the circumstances that led to the tragic incident; however, the nearby houses and surrounding communities were not affected by the fire from the explosion.

The Governor of Suphan Buri Province, Nattapat Suwanprateep, said that despite the uncertainty about what caused the fire explosion at the fireworks factory, it was operating legally with valid licenses.

Lt. Gen. Naiyawat Phademchid of the lower Western Thailand Police stated that 20 to 30 people had worked at the firecracker plant that day, and authorities have cordoned off the surrounding region and planned to start identifying the victims.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, who is currently in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, conveyed his condolences online to the families of the dead and ordered an investigation into whether the workshop was operating illegally as well as the cause of the incident.

According to national police chief Torsak Sukvimol, this is the second explosion at this firecracker factory, following one in November 2022, where one worker died and three others were seriously injured.

Suphan Buri province is located in the centre of Thailand’s rice-growing region, around 95 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Bangkok.