SURIN, THAILAND – An ammunition depot of the Border Patrol Police exploded on Tuesday evening, triggering a large fire and ongoing secondary blasts.
Depot blast shakes city
The ammunition warehouse of the Border Patrol Police Division 21 on the Surin bypass in Mueang Surin district caught fire and exploded at around 7:30 p.m. The force of the detonation shook nearby buildings, and secondary explosions continued to rattle the city as ammunition fragments flew through the air.
Evacuation and one‑kilometer safety zone
Police chief General Kittirat Phanphet immediately ordered the area cleared and established a safety radius of one kilometre. The Surin bypass road was completely closed, and more than 300 residents were forced to leave their homes. Police units and army personnel from the 25th Military Region (MTC 25) arrived with fire engines but could not approach the main fire as long as ammunition continued to detonate uncontrollably.
Injured officer and public safety advice
At least one officer was injured by grenade shrapnel and taken to a hospital. Residents in the vicinity were urged to seek shelter in a solid concrete building or leave the wider area altogether.
No evidence of sabotage so far
Army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree said initial findings did not point to a deliberate act.
“There is no indication of sabotage or a targeted attack based on the first assessments.”
said Winthai Suvaree, army spokesperson.
He explained that the affected depot contained old ammunition stocks that had been stored in a regular manner.
Cause under investigation
The exact cause of the fire could only be determined once the blaze was extinguished and the site secured, officials said. After that, explosive ordnance disposal specialists were to examine the area with robots to minimise risks from remaining munitions.
Impact felt kilometres away
The detonations were clearly felt at Surin Rajabhat University, about three kilometres away from the depot. City authorities coordinated temporary accommodation for evacuees and provided ongoing updates on traffic conditions around the closed bypass.
Officials warn against spreading rumors
Authorities urged the public not to share unverified information on social networks and instead to rely on official statements from the security agencies.
“People should not spread unconfirmed reports online and should follow only the announcements of the authorities.”
said local officials.
The emergency operation was still under way, with further details expected once the situation was brought under full control.