The Royal Thai Army said yesterday more than 400 old artillery shells found in Nonthaburi -- one of which exploded, seriously injuring a worker -- were decommissioned over a decade ago.
Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree asserted the army had strict measures to manage and eliminate discharged armaments in compliance with international standards in order to efficiently circulate weapons in the army and prevent other people from using them with ill intentions.
He was speaking after 417 old artillery shells were found in Bang Bua Thong district. One worker was wounded trying to cut into one of them.
Col Winthai said although they were old explosives, gunpowder remained inside some of the shells. This meant they could potentially be detonated by sparks such as those emitted by the worker's cutting tools, he said.
A police probe is looking into why the shells were left in the district, he said.
They were discovered on Wednesday at a scrap metal factory in the wake of the explosion.
Local police and explosive ordnance disposal officers rushed to Thai Compressed and Steel Scraps Co's factory on Soi Saengpratheep in tambon Laharn at around 7.30pm.
The team found bloodstains and debris scattered over the yard of the 40-rai factory.
The victim, identified as Somchai Chasa-nguan, 40, was taken to a nearby hospital before investigators arrived.
EOD officers inspected piles of metal scrap at the yard and found 403 105mm artillery shells and 14 155mm artillery shells. Six contained explosives. The live shells were destroyed and the others seized for examination.
Factory owner Wichuda Kengrungruangchai, 55, told police she purchased 3 tonnes of scrap metal from a factory in Bangkok's Rat Burana district and brought it to the factory for workers to sort through it.
Ms Wichuda said she was not aware old munitions were among the scrap.
The explosion occurred when Mr Somchai was cutting up the metal with a blow torch.
Ms Wichuda said she heard the explosion and rushed from her office to see what happened.
She said she saw Mr Somchai lying on the ground with serious injuries. She sent him to Pak Kret Hospital and alerted the police.
He was later transferred to Phra Nang Klao Hospital.
Pol Col Annop Nuamnakha of Bang Bua Thong Police Station said charges have been pressed against Ms Wichuda.
Pol Maj Gen Susak said possession of the shells was prohibited.
