Flare for trouble: Thai teen’s homemade firework mishap douses floating lantern festival

An incident at a floating lantern festival in Khelang Nakorn led to a young man severely injuring his hand with a homemade firework. The unfortunate event unfolded yesterday evening around 8pm. Emergency services from Amarin responded swiftly to calls for assistance from the festival, held at the Wang River Sports Field in the Fon Village, Chom Phu, Lampang.

The injured individual, a 19 year old resident from Chom Phu, was found behind the main stage. His right hand had been severed due to the explosion, causing him severe pain and prompting immediate cries for help. On-site Amarin rescue workers promptly provided first aid, using a cloth to bandage the wound before rushing him to the hospital.

Eyewitnesses recounted that the young man had come to the festival with friends and had brought a ping-pong ball for ignition. He initially lit the firework in the middle of a road behind the stage.

Although it ignited, it did not explode immediately. After a while, he attempted to relight it, only for it to detonate suddenly, leaving him with a severed hand. He then ran for help behind the main stage, where aid was rendered by the emergency services.

The local police from Khaelang Nakorn station will conduct further investigations into the incident, reported KhaoSod.

In related news, a devastating accident occurred involving a 33 year old lorry driver who lost his life when his 18-wheel truck, loaded with 20 tonnes of utility poles, lost its brakes and crashed on the longstanding slope in Sankhla Buri, Kanchanaburi today.

Police officer Thara Nawanich, from Sankhla Buri Police Station, was alerted to the incident and immediately rushed to the scene with medical staff and volunteers from the Pitakkan Foundation. Read more about this story HERE.

In other news, a pick-up truck, in an attempt to avoid a large pothole on the road and prevent damage to its alloy wheels, lost control and collided with a high-voltage electricity pole in front of a minimart in Nakhon Ratchasima. The pothole accident, which took place on October 29 at 6.30pm, resulted in vehicle damage and minor injuries to the driver and two passengers. Read more about this story HERE.

Follow more of The Thaiger’s latest stories on our new Facebook page HERE.