NBTC probes deaths of 3 mobile users killed by lightning strikes in Prachuap Khiri Khan

[webfact]

NBTC probes deaths of 3 mobile users killed by lightning strikes

BANGKOK, 8 April 2014 (NNT) —The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) is coordinating with local police to investigate the deaths of three people using mobile phone when killed by lightning strikes in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Takorn Tantasith, Secretary General of NBTC, said that the Commission has been cooperating with the provincial police in Bangsapan Noi district of Prachuap Khiri Khan to gain more details about the case, as well as inspect the mobile phones, batteries and any associated equipment to check if they were legitimate imports.

Furthermore, it's recommended that consumers select products approved by the Thai Industrial Standard and check international markings and information on imported mobile phones.

Mobile phone users should fully comply with instructions to prevent any injury or loss of life.


-- NNT 2014-04-08

[Thai at Heart]

Oh please.

[Tywais]

Oh please.

Agreed. Legit, not legit, proper usage, improper usage, battery no battery. Not going to make a difference unless they wrapped a wire around it and hung the wire up in a tree to get better reception.

[Tatsujin]

Oh please.

Agreed. Legit, not legit, proper usage, improper usage, battery no battery. Not going to make a difference unless they wrapped a wire around it and hung the wire up in a tree to get better reception.

Not going to make a difference unless they wrapped a wire around it and hung the wire up in a tree to get better reception . . . which (this being Thailand) is not beyond the realms of probability lol

[Guest]

Few options.

1) They have no idea what they are talking about

2) NBTC provided an "answer" to the question which should not have been asked

3) Nearby lightning caused and small scale EMP which short-circuited the mobile phone. This caused the lithium battery to overheat and produce hydrogen, which exploded while the person was talking on the phone.

[bino]

recommended that consumers select products approved by the Thai Industrial Standard

This is the part that scares the bejeezus out of me. Does it really exist? What are the standards?

[NoBrainer]

I think that the point they are trying to establish is that persons who use un-aproved / un-taxed telecommunications equipment may be struck down as an act of Karma.

This is of course to ward others away from committing these heinous offences against the state.

The superstitious crowd will be putting their phones far away from themselves at the first sign of rainfall.

[JoeThePoster]

It's possible the lightning was illegal and came across the border.

[bkkjames]

What instruction is there about using mobile phones in a lightening storm?

I would suggest that with what is it, 2.8 mobiles per person in Thailand, and at any given time a phone is within reach of any user, especially those outside during a thunderstorm - meaning they didn't go out without it.

Therefore, if we can glean what the stats were per capita in the times before mobile phones, vis a vie lightening strikes+deaths in the area, then and only then can we come up with a reasonable BS story.

These guys / gals were probably golfing with a mobile phone in their pockets for all we know...

[Puccini]

Few options.

1) They have no idea what they are talking about

2) NBTC provided an "answer" to the question which should not have been asked

3) Nearby lightning caused and small scale EMP which short-circuited the mobile phone. This caused the lithium battery to overheat and produce hydrogen, which exploded while the person was talking on the phone.

I haven't seen EMP mentioned so far in this topic. Would you be so kind as to spell out what EMP stands for?

[Guest]

I haven't seen EMP mentioned so far in this topic. Would you be so kind as to spell out what EMP stands for?

EMP as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse

Anyway, not to take it too seriously. Just an reminder that it's more interesting to debug even very remote possibilities, than just concentrate at laughing sometimes stupid press releases.

[Muhendis]

Few options.

1) They have no idea what they are talking about

2) NBTC provided an "answer" to the question which should not have been asked

3) Nearby lightning caused and small scale EMP which short-circuited the mobile phone. This caused the lithium battery to overheat and produce hydrogen, which exploded while the person was talking on the phone.

4) Whilst standing under a tree trying to google the meaning of EMP.

[Muhendis]

Few options.

1) They have no idea what they are talking about

2) NBTC provided an "answer" to the question which should not have been asked

3) Nearby lightning caused and small scale EMP which short-circuited the mobile phone. This caused the lithium battery to overheat and produce hydrogen, which exploded while the person was talking on the phone.

I haven't seen EMP mentioned so far in this topic. Would you be so kind as to spell out what EMP stands for?

EMP = Electromagnetic Pulse. Normally associated with an atmospheric nuclear explosion.

[Ulic]

Thai Industrial Standard

[I Like Thai]

I'll bet they were testing the new Electricity Wi-Fi.

[Thai at Heart]

Few options.

1) They have no idea what they are talking about

2) NBTC provided an "answer" to the question which should not have been asked

3) Nearby lightning caused and small scale EMP which short-circuited the mobile phone. This caused the lithium battery to overheat and produce hydrogen, which exploded while the person was talking on the phone.

Martians

Anyone's house TV aerial gone up recently? Any lightening strikes on household radios.

All scientific bull stories to perpetuate old wives tales.

[Eagleizer]

What instruction is there about using mobile phones in a lightening storm?

First of all, don`t use land lines or water lines (like taking a shower)

Outside:

Don`t use headphones/earplugs with any device as the cord will give

the lightning an easier way to the ground. (Your body and the air around

you have greater resistance than the cord.) In situations where it counts,

you are very close to get hit anyway... But avoiding using the cord might

give you that 0.01% chance to not get hit...

Then again, if you were to get hit anyway, the cord might lead the lightning

passed you heart and in that way saving your life... Who knows..

As I was writing, I found this article:

How to protect yourself from lightning

http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/how-to-protect-yourself-from-lightning-1.1483627

Did not read the whole thing, but I have heard that you can feel your hair

raising on your head just before you get struck. If so, crouch down as quick

as you can...

Check out this article (saved by iPod):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1194120/Saved-iPod-Girl-survives-lightning-strike-wire-diverts-300-000-volts.html