Associated Press

A huge fireball is seen in the smoke rising from a Thai Army arsenal yesterday after a series of explosions in the Pak Chong district of the Nakhon Ratchasima province, 93 miles northeast of Bangkok. At least one person died, and five dozen were injured in the blasts that officials said were set off by an accident.

Friday October 26, 2001

PAK CHONG, Thailand - Large explosions rocked a Thai army arsenal stocked with rockets and ammunition yesterday, leaving 12 people missing and feared dead, dozens injured and forcing the evacuation of a nearby town.

The blasts began when volatile, outdated artillery shells and other munitions detonated as they were being transported from a warehouse to another spot for disposal, Army Commander Gen. Surayud Chulanont told a news conference.

He said seven soldiers and five security guards at the site were missing, but he could not confirm their deaths. Continuing explosions at the scene made it too dangerous to approach the site, he said.

Earlier, Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon said he had a report that 17 people at the base were dead. The number was apparently based on observations of body parts at a distance.

The explosions continued 10 hours after the first blast at 9 a.m. at the 395-acre arsenal in Pak Chong district, about 95 miles from the capital, Bangkok.

Witnesses saw flames shoot about 300 feet above the depot and said the blasts could be felt several miles away. A hospital patient identified as Samrueng Yangkratok died of a heart attack after hearing the blasts, according to the chief of the provincial health center.

More than 10,000 residents of Pak Chong, a town five to eight miles from the camp, were evacuated to temporary shelters 12 miles away after unexploded munitions rained down on their streets. Many windows were shattered by the blasts.

"We have to evacuate people for the sake of their safety, both from chemical smoke and the possibility of more explosions," said Purachai, the interior minister.

He pleaded with people not to return to their homes but to wait for authorities to clear the area of the dangerous munitions.

Hundreds of onlookers had earlier gone to the area and could be seen taking away unexploded ordnance, including rockets.

"People who have taken ammunition, bombs or whatever you found on the street and nearby, please return them to the authorities urgently since your life is in danger," police announced over loudspeakers.

As evening fell, people were returning to town in increasing numbers out of apparent concern about the safety of their property. Security personnel continued to destroy munitions that had fallen into the streets.

An official at the Pak Chong Nana hospital, contacted by telephone, said that 10 soldiers and 51 civilians had been brought there for treatment. Most suffered cuts from flying glass.

Purachai told reporters the blasts were an accident.

"There's no sabotage involved in this," he said.

There had been concerns about possible sabotage because of discontent among Thailand's small Muslim community over the government's apparent support for Washington's attacks on Afghanistan. The government is allowing U.S. jets to refuel at an air base in eastern Thailand.

However, no violence or threats have been reported from the Muslim community, located mainly in southern Thailand.

Surayud said a study would be started on how to more safely store munitions, and that outdated ammunition would be disposed of more quickly.

In April, a smaller arsenal filled with four tons of bullets and explosives ignited at a Thai air force base near Bangkok's international airport.

There were no casualties in that blast. The air force said it was caused by hot weather, which had caused heat to build up inside a small building and detonate the ammunition.