SRI RACHA – A repair worker was killed and two others were seriously injured after a powerful explosion inside a drainage pipe outside a shopping center in Sri Racha, Chonburi province. The blast occurred on December 21, 2025, during welding work, prompting a large emergency response and the cordoning off of the area.

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Police and rescue teams were called to the scene in Surasak subdistrict following reports of the explosion. Lieutenant Colonel Sitthichai Thonphui, Deputy Investigation Superintendent at Sri Racha Police Station, led the initial investigation, which pointed to a suspected buildup or leak of gas within the drainage system as the likely cause.

The force of the explosion caused significant damage to the concrete surrounding the drainage opening. At the site, emergency responders found 35-year-old Samart Muendon with severe blast injuries, including a traumatic wound that severed part of his right leg. He was given immediate first aid before being transported to a hospital.

Approximately four meters inside the drainage pipe, rescuers recovered the body of 30-year-old Tinpat Wongma, who died at the scene after being blown into the pipe by the blast. A customer who was nearby at the time of the explosion also sustained serious injuries and was taken for medical treatment.

According to a witness, four welding technicians had been assigned to repair tasks around the mall, including work on drain covers and grease traps. The two affected workers were welding a drain cover when sparks fell into the pipe, triggering an immediate and powerful explosion. The force threw one worker clear of the opening and propelled the other into the drain.

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Authorities have sealed off the area for a detailed forensic and safety investigation to determine the exact cause of the blast. Police indicated that the findings will be used to formally conclude the case.

-Thailand News (TN)