Former PM expresses deep sorrow over firework explosion

BANGKOK, January 25 (TNA) - Former Thai prime minister Banharn Silapa-archa has expressed his deep sorrow and apologized to people in the central Suphan Buri Province, his hometown, for a firework explosion during a provincial grand Chinese New Year celebration event Tuesday night, killing four men and injuring some 75 people so far. The explosion happened during a highlighted firework display organised as part of the provincial Lunar New Year celebration, presided over by Banharn, who is now chief adviser of the coalition Chartthaipattana Party and incumbent Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa, with the honourable present of Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Guan Mu. The firework blast, with its radius of about one kilometer, sent balls of fire on some 30 houses in the nearby Wat Phrathat Community behind the provincial pillar shrine, badly damaging the houses. Local authorities and relief workers have been assisting victims since last night. Banharn insisted on full help for last night's victims and promised to compensate them; while Suphan Buri Governor Somsak Phusrisak said the management of the provincial pillar shrine will compensate for the damages and legal actions will be taken against those responsible for the firework display. The governor then stopped all Chinese New Year firework displays in Suphan Buri and urged affected people to file complaints with the local authorities. (TNA)