One Killed, 15 Injured In Bangkok Gas Explosion

One killed, 15 injured in building fire on Bangkok outskirts

A gas tank lies in the foreground as a Thai rescuer sprays water after the building collapsed in Prapradaeng, Thailand, Feb 17.

BANGKOK: At least one person was killed and 15 injured when explosions of cooking gas tanks and an ensuing fire destroyed four buildings Tuesday on the outskirts of the Thai capital, police said.

Rescuers searched under tonnes of rubble for possible survivors, said Police Maj. Gen. Saman Sukwattana.

According to his account, several of the tanks exploded in a four-story shophouse in Prapradaeng district on the western outskirts of the city early Tuesday. The explosions ignited a fire which spread to three adjacent buildings which also were gutted.

The building where the explosion occurred collapsed while firefighters and rescue teams were inside, Saman said.

The owner of a cooking gas store, Paitoon Sirikul, was detained for investigation on suspicion that his workers tampered with the tanks before delivering them to the shophouse, the police officer said.

- AP2004-02-18