Five Thai communities warned of buried bombs

BANGKOK, April 4 (TNA) - Two days after an explosion in Bangkok's Bang Khen District, caused by an old WWII bomb, killed at least eight victims and wounded 16 others, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has warned that more World War II-era bombs might be hidden underground in five areas in the capital. Sanya Chantarat, Secretary to the Bangkok Governor, told journalists on Friday that the BMA has been informed by the Royal Thai Air Force that the five areas in Bangkok, where large bombs were thrown during the World War II, which ended in 1945, include the vicinity of the Bang Sue Railway Station, Siriraj Hospital, the Bangkok Noi Railway Station, the Memorial Bridge, linking Bangkok with its Thonburi side, and Rama VI Road. Sanya said the BMA has, therefore, asked district offices in those areas to alert people to be cautious and to immediately report a district office in their respective area if they came across any suspected materials, or to telephone the City Authority's call centre, 1555, so that the BMA could request the military to inspect the area. According to the secretary, the BMA will also send a letter to the Royal Thai Air Force next week, officially asking about suspected areas in which old bombs could be hidden underground so that the BMA would be prepared to support the Royal Thai Air Force's search. Meanwhile, the BMA has maintained six tents, set up near the site of Wednesday’s old bomb explosion on Lat Plakhao 72 Road, to assist affected people, while 146 of them have lodged complaints to police station in the area and 117 of them have been issued certificates from the Bang Khen District Office for receiving its assistance. Last Wednesday’s explosion occurred while workers of a scrap metal shop attempted to cut the device with a blowtorch. Explosive Ordance Disposal (EOD) police officers on Friday inspected another rusty bomb, which is about 30 centimetres long, after being reported that it was left in the mud in front of a warehouse in Sri Racha District of Chon Buri Province in the Thai East. The EOD officers said they initially believed that the bomb was left discarded by a scrap metal shop. On Thursday, a bomb was also found behind a factory located within the compound of the Hemmaraj Industrial Estate in Sri Racha. (TNA)