BANGKOK – Around 20 people were killed in Thailand in an explosion on Jan 17 at a fireworks factory north of Bangkok, police said, as the authorities inspected the site but had yet to find survivors.

It was not immediately clear what caused the incident, which took place in the mid-afternoon in Suphan Buri province, about 120km north of Bangkok, police said.

“We cannot tell whether all the workers were killed. The officials are entering the site to investigate. They have not found any survivors,” provincial governor Nattapat Suwanprateep told Reuters.

A preliminary investigation put the death toll at 20, according to a police statement.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was briefed on the explosion while at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and urged a swift investigation.

“The Prime Minister ordered an inspection of the plant to see if it was operating legally and if the explosion was caused by negligence. The law must be enforced to the fullest extent because there are innocent deaths and injuries,” Mr Srettha’s office said. REUTERS