Ore Furnace Explodes; Seven Workers Hurt, Company Fails to Report
A tin smelting factory furnace exploded in Kanchanaburi early August 4, injuring seven workers from Myanmar, Thailand, and China; the company failed to report the incident to police.
At 9:00 a.m. on August 4, 2026, Huay Krachao Police Station in Kanchanaburi received notification from Huay Krachao Hospital that seven workers had been injured by an ore furnace explosion and were brought in for treatment, later transferred to Phahon Yothin Hospital. The injured workers—five Burmese nationals, one Thai, and one Chinese national aged 58—were employees of a tin smelting factory located in Moo 14, Huay Krachao Subdistrict, Huay Krachao District, Kanchanaburi.
The explosion occurred around 1:50 a.m. when heat accumulated inside the furnace, causing it to rupture with violent force inside the factory. However, the company failed to report the incident to police; had the hospital not alerted authorities, they would never have known. Police discovered extensive blast damage throughout the facility and secured the scene pending investigation by specialists and forensic experts.
District officials, provincial industrial officers, and relevant agencies subsequently inspected the site and assessed the structural damage for safety. Investigators collected evidence, interviewed witnesses, and coordinated with industrial safety authorities to determine the cause of the explosion and verify the company's legal compliance. They also investigated why the company failed to report the incident immediately to allow police to respond promptly.
