Explosion At Novotel Coralia Phuket

Worker dies in blast

PHUKET: -- A maintenance worker was blown up and four others were slightly wounded when a battery of air chillers exploded in a hotel on the southern resort island of Phuket yesterday.

The remains of Chanyut Indrachai, 26, were scattered around an equipment room located 100 metres away from the front counter in the Novotel Coralia Phuket, said Lt-General Yuthana Petchkarn of Phuket police.

An investigation team from Phuket's civil engineering department said the accident was caused when a leaking air-conditioner compressor ignited, causing two other chillers to explode in a chain reaction.

Thongchai Ubon, head of the hotel's engineering department, said he was walking towards the equipment room with Chanyut, when he decided to use the toilet and Chanyut went ahead.

"I heard a loud blast and then heard someone crying for help three times but I couldn't do anything because of the thick black smoke," Thongchai said, adding that later he found Chanyut's body torn asunder.

-- The Nation 2004-08-08