PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 58-year-old Belgian tourist was injured in the early hours when a powerbank exploded in his trouser pocket and set his clothing on fire in a busy bar.
Powerbank explosion in crowded Walking Street bar
The incident occurred at around 3:00 a.m. in a beer bar on the well-known Walking Street in Pattaya, according to emergency responders. Special units from the Pattaya City Special Affairs department and rescue teams were dispatched after a distress call reported an injured foreign tourist and arrived shortly afterwards at the venue.
Tourist suffered burns and taken to hospital
On site, responders found the man, identified as Mr. Segers (58) from Belgium, in severe pain with thermal burns to his left thigh. First responders initially treated the injured tourist inside the bar before relatives and friends immediately transported him to Pattaya City Hospital for further medical care.
Witness heard loud bang before flames erupted
A bar employee who witnessed the incident and requested anonymity said the man had been sitting at his table and drinking beforehand.
“He had been sitting quite normally at the table and drinking. Suddenly there was a loud bang, and then flames shot out of his trouser pocket.”
said the bar employee, witness.
The powerbank the man was carrying reportedly detonated in his pocket, caught fire and fell to the floor. At the same time, the flames spread to his trousers, causing alarm among patrons in the well-frequented bar.
Fire quickly extinguished, device found melted
Staff members and arriving responders extinguished the flames, moved the injured man away from the danger zone and alerted emergency services. During a subsequent inspection, authorities found the powerbank had melted and was heavily charred, indicating severe heat damage.
Authorities highlight dangers of unsafe batteries
Following the incident, responders and witnesses pointed to the dangers posed by unsafe electronic devices, particularly non-certified, counterfeit or damaged powerbanks. According to the authorities, such devices can overheat, cause short circuits, explode and trigger fires.
They stressed that similar incidents could lead to serious injuries and urged the public to handle battery packs and chargers carefully and to choose them with particular caution.