BANGKOK - One student was killed and five were injured after a fire extinguisher exploded during a fire drill at Rajavinit Mathayom School in Bangkok’s Dusit district on Friday morning.

The five students injured in the blast were rushed to Klang Hospital in the Thai capital for treatment.

Police suspect the explosion during the fire drill is related to a reused fire extinguisher without a safety valve. It was left in sunlight and high temperature raised its pressure, possibly leading to an explosion, said a Bangkok police chief.

Ministry of Education officials are investigating the cause of the blast, with Permanent Secretary Atthaphon Sangkhawasee saying officials from his ministry have been sent to the school to determine the cause.

He expressed condolences to relatives of the deceased and victims, saying that the ministry will assist and compensate victims. Provincial Education Offices nationwide have been instructed to ensure safety for students, he added.

Dr Weerachai Phutthawong, a lecturer at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, said the fire extinguisher may have exploded because it was old and damaged. Fire extinguishers can sustain pressure of about 400 pounds per square inch, and any higher pressure can damage them and cause them to explode, he said.

Overfilling an old fire extinguisher can also cause it to explode, he said, adding that exposure to sunlight can also increase the pressure of a fire extinguisher.

Relevant agencies should examine the explosion and ensure that all fire extinguishers and related equipment comply with safety standards. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK