NONTHABURI: More than 400 old artillery shells were discovered at a major metal scrap factory in Bang Bua Thong district following an explosion that seriously injured a worker who tried to cut into one of them.
Local police and explosive ordnance disposal officers rushed to Thai Compressed and Steel Scraps Co’s factory on Soi Saengpratheep in tambon Laharn after the explosion around 7.30pm on Wednesday.
The team found debris scattered over the yard in the compound of the 40-rai factory. There were bloodstains in the area.
The victim, identified as Somchai Chasa-nguan, 40, was taken to a nearby hospital before investigators arrived. He sustained serious injuries.
EOD officers inspected piles of metal scrap at the yard and found 403 old 105mm artillery shells and 14 old 155mm artillery shells. Six of them contained explosive. The live shells were destroyed and all the others seized for examination, Thai media reported.
Factory owner Wichuda Kengrungruangchai, 55, told police she had bought three tonnes of scrap metal from a factory in Bangkok’s Rat Burana district to her factory, where her workers were sorting it out.
She was not aware there were old munitions 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. Mr Somchai was lying on the ground with serious injuries. She immediately sent him to hospital and alerted police.
Pol Col Annop Nuamnakha, superintendent at Bang Bua Thong police station, said investigators had questioned the factory owner and workers who witnessed the incident.
The investigation was continuing into why there were artillery shells among the scrap metal. So far, no charges had been pressed against anyone, Pol Col Annop said.
