An explosion and fire tore through an armoury inside Border Patrol Police Subdivision 21 (BPP 21) in Surin province on 24 February 2026, injuring one officer and forcing authorities to seal off the area as a danger zone. Officials said the initial blast occurred in a weapons storage building and triggered further explosions as flames spread. The situation was later brought under control, but access remains restricted pending a full inspection.
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At 21.20 on 24 February, Surin Governor Jamroen Waenphet and Maj Gen Chaiyanakorn Kitkhana, commander of the 25th Army Circle (MTB 25), held a press briefing on the incident. The governor said a fire broke out in Weapons Storage Building 1, which housed mortar rounds and RPG ammunition. Officers shouted warnings for people to run before flames spread to Building 2, used to store small-arms ammunition, where further explosions followed.
Picture courtesy of Matichon
One officer sustained minor injuries after being struck in the knee by shrapnel. Multiple fire engines, including foam and water units, were deployed to extinguish the fire and tommonitor the site overnight. No night-time inspection will take place, with drones set to survey the area in daylight once visibility improves.
Ambulances and two hospitals were placed on standby, and traffic in front of the camp was stopped. On the morning of 25 February, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team will enter first to assess whether to recover or destroy remaining munitions.
Maj Gen Chaiyanakorn said the likely cause was extreme heat, noting that temperatures had been very high on the day of the incident. Officers had reportedly opened the warehouse doors for ventilation and the facility is equipped with cooling sprinklers that must be activated when temperatures exceed 40C. He added that most residents within the BPP compound are officers’ families and the general public has not been affected.
Amarin reported that the area remains sealed due to the risk of unexploded ordnance. Multiple agencies, including provincial authorities, rescue units, Surin Army units and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, are continuing to assess structural stability and overall safety at the site over night and into the morning. If no further flare ups occur, officials expect to conduct a detailed examination and damage assessment on 25 February.
Key Takeaways
• An explosion and fire at BPP 21 in Surin on 24 February 2026 injured one officer and damaged two ammunition buildings.
• Authorities believe extreme heat may have triggered the blast, with temperatures reported as very high that day.
• The site remains sealed as a danger zone pending EOD inspection and a full damage assessment.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Matichon 25 Feb 2026
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