Bangkok Scrapyard Explosion: One Dead, Four Injured
A routine scrap metal transaction turned deadly Tuesday morning in Wang Nam Khieo district, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, when an unexploded artillery shell detonated at a local scrapyard. The blast killed 61-year-old Somjai Phanomyai and seriously injured four others, sending shockwaves through the community and prompting an urgent investigation.
The incident occurred around 8:45 a. m. at a residence in Non Srithong village, also used as a scrap metal collection point. Somjai Phanomyai and her husband, 66-year-old Kittisak Phanomyai, had traveled from Buri Ram province to purchase scrap for resale. While weighing a sack containing the artillery shell, Somjai struck the scale with the shell’s tip, triggering the detonation. The explosion inflicted severe shrapnel wounds on those nearby.
The injured included Kittisak Phanomyai, two other scrap collectors, and 52-year-old homeowner Krueawan Sing-ngon. All four were immediately hospitalized. Authorities quickly cordoned off a 100-meter radius around the site. Bomb disposal experts discovered at least four additional unexploded ordnance items: an M79 grenade, a rocket-propelled grenade, and anti-aircraft artillery shells. The search for further explosives continues.
The incident highlights a dangerous practice in the region. Ban Non Srithong village head Nitaya Roiking revealed that residents frequently collect unexploded shells from a nearby Second Army drill site on Phu Lamyai mountain. This dangerous scavenging often accompanies wild vegetable gathering; individuals mistakenly believe the shells are inert after military exercises. While similar incidents have been reported in neighboring villages, this was the first fatality in Ban Non Srithong. Despite prior warnings from village leaders, some residents continued the practice, driven by the potential profit from selling scrap metal.
Two injured scrap collectors, 50-year-old Kamlai Sanpen and her 61-year-old husband, Tharapong Ingpanchakan, regularly ventured onto the military training grounds. Kamlai’s mother, 73-year-old Boonliang Timrat, explained that her daughter and son-in-law collected both vegetables and shell casings after drills, selling the metal for profit. Boonliang usually joined them but stayed home that day to pay bills, a decision that spared her from the blast. Kamlai and Tharapong suffered severe limb and abdominal wounds.
This tragedy underscores the hidden dangers in post-conflict areas and the desperate measures some take to survive. The discovery of multiple unexploded ordnance necessitates increased safety measures and public awareness campaigns to prevent future tragedies. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the full extent of hazardous materials at the site and implement measures to secure the area and educate the community about the risks of handling unexploded ordnance. The incident serves as a painful reminder of the lethal consequences of scavenging unexploded military remnants.
