A high school senior in Thailand has died after an extinguisher exploded during a fire drill at his campus.
The city’s governor said 21 others were injured in Friday’s incident at Bangkok’s Rajwinit Mathew School. Seven were taken to hospital.
The explosion sent fire extinguishers towards the victim, who was about 10 meters away.
Firefighters say the sun or heat can damage the extinguisher.
The deceased student was in his final year of school. His age has not been confirmed.
The police are investigating the cause of the incident, which was scattered with debris surrounding the scene.
Officials added that all the fire extinguishers used in the exercise have been sent to the forensic division of the police.
According to the Romkatanyo Foundation, a rescue organization at the scene, the canister contained carbon dioxide.
Extinguishers are typically refilled with chemical when empty, but “how and where they were refilled should be investigated, and safety valves should be checked,” said the city’s police chief. .
The school is located in Duset district with many government offices.
Education Ministry officials have also been sent to the school to determine what happened, said Permanent Secretary Athaphon Singhawasi.
According to The Nation, he expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased student, adding that the ministry would provide assistance and compensation to the victims.
