Narathiwat explosion sparks suspicions of bribery

The firework warehouse explosion in Narathiwat province last week has raised questions over how it was possible to have a warehouse containing a large quantity of volatile materials located in the heart of a community.

The warehouse was built recently and did not hold a hazardous substance permit for such storage. The explosion caused 11 deaths and injured more than a hundred people.

Thai PBS’s southern bureau reported fireworks, firecrackers and similar products have been popular in the province for quite some time now, not just with local clients but also in neighbouring Malaysia as well, especially during festivals or holidays, such as Malaysia’s independence day and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Fireworks and pyrotechnics are lucrative business in Narathiwat, with people willing to invest and do business in both legal and illegal products. The illegal product trade attracts a…