Fireworks display ends in tragedy

30 Jan 2012

A blast caused by exploding fireworks at a display ushering in the Chinese New Year in Thailand last Tuesday evening claimed the lives of four people. The unfortunate accident, which took place in the municipal city of Suphan Buri west of Bangkok, also injured scores of other spectators as well as people on a local housing estate.

The City Pillar Shrine was the focal point of the fireworks extravaganza in the town. Witnesses to the deadly explosion said hot embers dropped from fireworks exploding in the sky and ignited the facility where fireworks for the rest of the evening’s entertainment had been stored.

A witness said he was sitting 100 metres from where the focal point of the blast was and that it was so loud that it rendered him temporarily deaf. He added that as the explosion erupted, debris rained down on nearby wooden houses and they rapidly ignited.

It took firefighters several hours to dowse the fires in the residential complex. City authorities said later that more than 20 houses had been totally destroyed in the blaze.

Three of the people who died in the tragedy were involved with preparing and launching the fireworks. They were too close to the epicentre of the blast and took the full force of it.

Former Thai prime-minister Banharn Silpa-archa and his brother Chumphol were among local dignitaries who attended the fireworks show to usher in the auspicious Year of the Dragon. The display was also being shown on national television and audiences were horrified when the tragedy took place.

Tags: Fireworks display tragedy