Education officials this morning gave financial compensation to the family of a student killed during a school drill by an exploding fire extinguisher as the disaster department sought to dispel fears about the devices.
Education Sec-Gen Atapol Sangkawasai presented THB30,000 (US$850) to the parents of 18-year-old Benz Premmanee, who died while firefighters were teaching students about emergency fire procedures. The explosion of the poorly maintained extinguisher killed Benz and injured at least 11 others.
Several injured students were still in hospital care and unable to attend Monday’s PR event. The school’s insurance policy covered only THB200,000 to compensate fatalities and THB10,000 for funeral expenses, according to the local insurance commission.
On Sunday, City Hall’s top disaster official, Thirayuth Phumisak, said people had been dumping or returning fire extinguishers for fear they are dangerous. He explained that regular devices such as those installed by the city contain a dry chemical dust, while those used at the school were filled with carbon dioxide gas.
He added that such tanks are refilled with gas for demonstrations and checked once every five years.
On Friday, the explosion at the Rachawinit School was so powerful that it blew Benz 10 meters away, killing him. Atapol said Benz’s death was a costly lesson for the education system to take steps to prevent from recurring.
The education department said it would arrange counseling for those injured as well as those who witnessed the explosion at the school located in the old quarter, just blocks from the Education Ministry and Government House.
Fire extinguisher explodes during drill, killing Bangkok student
Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt ordered Saturday that all fire drills should be suspended until safety checks on firefighting equipment are complete. All firefighting stations have been ordered to check such equipment for any possible leaks or damage.
In addition, deputy Bangkok governor Thawida Kamolvej said that all carbon dioxide fire extinguishers have been recalled from the city, and that stricter guidelines must be developed to ensure safety.
Three firefighters involved in the drill have been charged with negligence. The authorities concluded that Bangkok’s heat likely contributed to the extinguisher explosion.
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Fire extinguisher explodes during drill, killing Bangkok student
