SAMUT PRAKAN, THAILAND – A cheap power bank nearly set a house on fire on May 3.
Explosion im Haus
The power bank was lying on a table in the house when it suddenly caught fire. The owner’s wife was sitting nearby and reacted immediately to the flames.
She tried to smother the fire with a pillow. When that failed, she pushed the device out of the house.
Flammen beschädigen Vorhang
Outside, the flames damaged a curtain and a door before the fire was extinguished. Only the woman’s quick action likely prevented worse damage.
The homeowner, 45-year-old Kittisak, later showed reporters the remains of the damaged power bank.
Kittisak kaufte billig online
Kittisak said he bought the device online for 400 baht. He chose it because the price was low.
He did not know whether the power bank was genuine or carried a Thai industrial standard. He had fully charged it before the incident and then placed it on the table.
Warnung an Käufer
Kittisak said the explosion could have caused much more damage. It would have been especially dangerous if no one had been home.
He called on the relevant authorities to inspect online-sold products more strictly. Many buyers only notice whether items are safe when they use them.
Brand in Buri Ram
Also in Buri Ram, a fire broke out in a house. Firefighters later brought the blaze under control.
The homeowner said her daughter had left a power bank on a bed on the second floor. In hot, humid weather, an electrical short circuit may have triggered the fire.