A municipal official in Mueang district of Uttaradit province was killed by the force from the explosion of an LPG canister during a fire drill demonstration at a sugar refinery today.

The victim, identified as Surachart Phubuppha, was filling the tank with nitrogen, to be used in the demonstration, when it ruptured, killing him at the scene.

Mueang district police said they are trying to discover why the tank exploded.

Uttaradit’s Fire Department subsequently issued a statement expressing deep condolences to the family of the victim.

A similar tragedy occurred at the Rajavinit Matthayom School in Bangkok on June 23, when a fire extinguisher exploded during a fire drill, killing a student. Police later said that the tank was old and had been exposed to direct sunlight for several hours.