UDON THANI – A pickup truck carrying more than 40 LPG cylinders overturned and exploded near That Don Tun School in Udon Thani’s Nong Han district on Monday morning, sending flames and repeated blasts across the area and forcing residents and motorists to flee. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on December 8, 2025.

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The driver, 71-year-old Boonthong Sitthiprapha, managed to escape the vehicle but sustained burn injuries and was rushed to Nong Han Hospital. Emergency crews from the Ban Ya Subdistrict Administrative Organisation provided first aid before firefighters from three stations—Ban Ya, Nong Sa Pla, and Ban Chiang—arrived to battle the intense blaze.

It took firefighters over an hour to gain control as gas cylinders continued to explode, some scattering into roadside drainage ditches. Traffic police and rescue volunteers secured the scene and redirected traffic away from the danger zone.

According to police, the white Toyota pickup was transporting cooking gas cylinders collected in Sawang Daen Din and bound for a shop in Chaiwan district. A preliminary investigation suggests a tire blowout caused the driver to lose control on Road 2 (Udon Thani–Sakon Nakhon), leading the vehicle to overturn and spill its hazardous cargo.

Witnesses captured dramatic footage showing jets of flame and loud explosions—some likely caused by boiling liquid expanding vapor explosions (BLEVEs)—as drivers reversed rapidly to escape the area. Local authorities emphasized the severe risk posed by gas-transport vehicles, especially when crashes occur near communities.

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Officials from Nong Han Police Station and local administrative units are examining the scene to determine the exact cause of the accident, with findings expected to inform future safety measures for hazardous material transport. The driver remains under medical care as the investigation continues.

-Thailand News (TN)