Two fireworks traders and a building contractor in the southern province of Narathiwat are being sued by hundreds of people impacted by a fatal explosion earlier this year.
682 individuals are suing for damages of 300 million baht as a result of the huge blast. The massive explosion in the Sungai Kolok district on July 29 killed 11 people, injured 389, and damaged 649 homes and 3 schools.
The victims, represented by 68 lawyers, filed a civil lawsuit at the Narathiwat Provincial Court yesterday, November 21. They are suing the owners of the warehouse where the fireworks were stored, 42-year-old Sompong Nakul and his wife, 42-year-old Piyanuch Puengwirawat.
Also being sued is construction contractor Pathomporn Phromsakul, who it’s understood built the shelves in the warehouse. All 3 were present at the court yesterday, but kept in a separate room to avoid a possible confrontation with the plaintiffs.
In addition to the civil case, all 3 plaintiffs face criminal charges, including recklessness causing death, sub-standard construction causing death, the illegal trading and importing of fireworks, and carrying out unauthorised alterations to a building.
According to the Bangkok Post, the warehouse owners offered assets worth a million baht as part of a bail application, but were refused.
Their lawyer says they will do what they can to pay compensation and have already deposited 1.1 million baht with the court for the families of those killed.
The fatal blast was reportedly triggered by sparks from welding work happening at the time.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
