Petanque ball shell explodes, damages home in Kanchanaburi
A metal object resembling a petanque ball shell fell through a house roof into a bedroom in Mueang 3, Nong Lan subdistrict, Tha Maka district, Kanchanaburi province, yesterday, February 23.
Officers from Tha Maka Police Station responded to the alarming incident, accompanied by the village headman, Sanphap Klandee. They found a large hole in the bedroom ceiling and metal fragments on the floor.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Sakchai Kingthong, stationed at the Nong Lan public service point, explained that initial reports suggested a metal object, initially mistaken for a bullet, had fallen through the roof. Upon further investigation with the village headman, it was confirmed to be half of a petanque ball shell.
Lt. Col. Sakchai noted that the petanque shell was still warm to the touch and had no gunpowder smell, raising questions about how it exploded and where it originated. Further inquiry revealed a local had heard an explosion approximately 100 metres from the incident site, leading them to the source.
The resident at the explosion site said he had placed three rusty petanque balls in a charcoal stove for cleaning. He stepped away to check on his child at the front of the house when one of the balls exploded, scattering the stove.
Lt. Col. Sakchai explained that the petanque balls consist of two iron halves with an internal filling resembling sand, known as mortar. When heated, this material expands and can cause an explosion.
He warned against heating petanque balls or similar objects, as they can pose serious injury or fatality risks if people are nearby. He advised using alternative cleaning methods and highlighted the importance of understanding these risks, reported KhaoSod.
Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities occurred in this incident. The involved parties have discussed the damages and reached an agreement on compensation.
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