The explosion killed 12 people and injured 300 at facility in Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat. - AFP
NARATHIWAT: Thai police have sought the help of their Malaysian counterparts to track down the owners of a fireworks and explosives storage warehouse that exploded in an incident at Mundok, Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat.
The two of them, a man and a woman, both aged 42, were believed to have fled to Malaysia before the incident.
Thai Deputy Police Chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakpar said the police had issued arrest warrants for the two individuals, who were both Thai nationals.
"We will contact the Malaysian Police to help track down the two warehouse owners," he said.
A total of 12 people died and 300 were injured in the explosion incident at the fireworks storage warehouse on July 29.
Nine victims had since been laid to rest while the remaining three were currently awaiting the outcomes of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) tests.
According to figures from the Narathiwat Regional Office, the incident which took place around 3.05pm (local time) destroyed or damaged 681 properties, including homes, businesses, and schools.
More than 3,000 people from 681 households were impacted by the explosion, which also resulted in the destruction of 41 cars and 27 motorbikes.
The two warehouse owners had alerted the police that they would surrender on Aug 1 but failed to do so before arrest warrants were filed against them, according to Narathiwat Police Chief Maj Gen Anuruth Imarb.
On July 27, the two warehouse owners left for Hatyai, and they reportedly entered Malaysia via the Sadao-Bukit Kayu bridge two days later. - Bernama
