Thai man hurt as cellphone explodes

[george]

Man hurt as cellphone explodes

Bangkok - A Bangkok businessman was slightly injured after his cellphone exploded, a news report said on Sunday.

Company executive Wichai Thongwiangchan, owner of the exploding cellphone, was slightly injured on his hand.

"I was using a remote control to open the front gate. As the gate was closing behind me, I took my cellphone from my belt, thinking the battery had run down, Wichai was quoted as saying by The Nation newspaper.

When Wichai tried to turn his phone on, it exploded into small pieces, spreading fragments over a three-metre area.

The businessman said the main injury he suffered was to his hand.

"My hand would have been more seriously harmed without the leather cover on the phone. If I had used it (the phone) my ear would have been burnt," Wichai said.

The Bangkok executive said he suspected a faulty battery was responsible for the explosion, which burned the screen and broke the back plate of the phone causing the battery to split and spill its contents.

Wichai said he bought the battery, compatible with his cellphone, from a local shop.

Amnat, a cellphone shop owner, said it is not uncommon for cellphone owners to buy cheaper substandard batteries.

"Phone users do not care about using genuine batteries..., which are more expensive. Any product at a reasonable price and good quality will do," Amnat said, adding that cellphoneshop owners have no way of checking on the condition of their batteries.

--Sapa-DPA 2003-11-02