Nakhon Phanom Man Seriously Injured After Chemical Drum Explosion

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

A 57-year-old rice mill owner from Nakhon Phanom was left in critical condition after a 200-litre chemical drum he was cutting exploded violently, injuring him in front of his children.

Emergency services were called to Ban Don Daeng, Moo 9, in Kam Toei Subdistrict at around 11:00 on 3 May, following reports of an explosion involving an unidentified drum. Responders from Kam Toei Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and staff from Nakhon Phanom Hospital rushed to the scene.

Upon arrival, emergency teams found the remains of a blue chemical drum with its lid blown open and the base severely dented. Nearby were fragments of a metal-cutting wheel, a damaged angle grinder, a pair of sandals, and a pool of blood.

The victim, identified as Mr Thani Sonpaeng, 57, had sustained severe facial and neck injuries and was rendered unconscious. His youngest son rushed him to Nakhon Phanom Hospital, where he was immediately taken into intensive care for emergency surgery. Doctors later discovered a brain haemorrhage and arranged for his transfer to Sakhon Nakhon Hospital for further treatment.

Mr Thani’s daughter, Ms Piyanuch Sonpaeng, 31, recounted the moment. “I was resting in a hammock when I heard a deafening bang. I ran out and saw my father unconscious and covered in blood,” she said tearfully. Ms Piyanuch had only just returned home after undergoing uterine surgery the day before.

Family members and neighbours confirmed that Mr Thani had recently purchased the drum from a local dealer and was attempting to repurpose it into a charcoal-burning stove. He was reportedly using a grinder to cut open the drum without first venting or emptying it, which likely caused residual vapours inside to ignite.

One witness stated: “He didn’t open the cap before cutting into the drum. There was still either gas or chemical residue inside. White liquid-like substances spilled out after the blast.”

Mr Thani’s wife, Mrs Liang Sonpaeng, 57, who was working in the fields at the time of the explosion, was devastated upon learning of the accident. “I came home to find my husband had already been taken to hospital. I hugged my daughter and broke down crying. It was all too much,” she said.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-05-05.