A powerful blast ripped through a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand on Saturday, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 100 others, officials said.
The explosion occurred around 3 p.m. local time (8 a.m. GMT) in the town of Sungai Kolok in the province of Narathiwat, near the border with Malaysia.
The provincial governor, Sanan Pongaksorn, said the cause of the blast was likely a welding error during construction work on the building, which ignited the firecrackers stored inside.
The blast damaged homes, shops, and vehicles in a radius of about 500 meters (1,640 feet), and left many people trapped under the debris.
Witnesses described hearing a loud noise and feeling their houses shake. Some said they saw a huge plume of smoke rising from the site.
Rescue workers and firefighters rushed to the scene to search for survivors and put out the fire. The authorities said they would provide assistance to the affected residents and move them to a temporary shelter if needed.
Fireworks are widely used in Thailand for festivals and celebrations, especially during the Lunar New Year and Songkran, the Thai New Year.