Si racha: An explosion outside a newly opened shopping mall in Si Racha district resulted in the death of a welder and injuries to another individual. The incident is believed to have been caused by gas combustion in a manhole, triggered by sparks from welding.
According to Thai News Agency, the explosion occurred late last night in front of a well-known shopping mall in Si Racha district, Chonburi province, which had just opened on December 5th. The explosion took place at the mouth of a grease trap, scattering debris across the concrete floor. The blast also caused damage to a sukiyaki restaurant located just 5 meters away, cracking its glass and spreading a strong gas odor in the vicinity.
In the chaos that ensued, customers and mall employees evacuated the area. The welder, who was working on the edge of the grease trap, sustained injuries from the explosion and later succumbed to them after falling into the approximately 4-meter-deep grease trap. Another welder was injured in the incident, and a customer at a nearby hot pot restaurant suffered minor injuries.
The investigation into the explosion revealed that the welder was in the process of welding a manhole cover for a grease trap when the explosion occurred. It is believed that the gas inside the trap was ignited by sparks from the welding, resulting in the fatal explosion.