Thread: A driver died and two tourists injured in an explosion of a leftover bomb

A tour bus driver was killed and two tourists injured on the way to Phu Tap Berk mountain retreat in Phetchabun province on Sunday morning after he accidentally stepped on an active bomb by the roadside as he was trying to relieve himself.

Mr Wanchai Chayarom, headman of Village 16, Ban Tap Berk, said he suspected the bomb was one of many leftover explosives believed still scattered in area which was a hot-contested war zone between government forces and communist rebels several decades ago.

It was reported that the driver whose identity was not known at Press time stopped the bus at a road junction, got off to relieve himself by the roadside and accidentally stepped on an active bomb. Shrapnels from the explosion injured two female students sitting on the bus.

After the incident, troops, police and local officials arrived at the scene and cordoned off the explosion site and surrounding area as bomb demolition squad searched for more hidden bombs.

The action resulted in traffic gridlock on the way to Phu Tap Berk as tourist vehicles could barely move.

A driver died and two tourists injured in an explosion of a leftover bomb - Thai PBS English News

Bit of bad luck. Centimeters either way.....

Been looking into that eco slum.Looks a top place to take a motorbike, camp out and see the sunrise above cloud cover. Conts want 500 baht off the whitey to get to the top though. Youd think theyd spend the dough on a metal detector.

Bomb at Phu Tap Berk mountain retreat may have been intended for authorities tasked to dismantle encroached property

The explosion that killed a bus driver and injured two tourists on the way to Phu Tap Berk mountain retreat on Sunday morning might be intended on government authorities as a broken electric wire was found at the scene.

The finding of the broken electric wire at the explosion scene by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) soldiers and more suspecious wires forced an ongoing meeting of authorities to assess the situation near the scene to call off the meeting to allow clearance of the area for safety reason.

The scene is where forestry, district officials, police and soldiers normally assembled before going out to enforce law on forest encroachers who still decline to dismantle their property out of the Phu Tap Berk mountain resort.

The meeting chaired by Phetchabun governor Piboon Hatakijkosol was called at the forward command of the joint operation centre located near the scene after all relevant officials inspected the explosion scene yesterday.

The meeting was briefed of the explosion by Col Tanatpol Kosaisevi, deputy commander of the First Army Calvary Division, that the explosion might be caused by a 60mm mortar bomb as it left a 20-centimetres deep and one metre wide hole on the ground. A broken 9-voltage electric wire was also found, he said.

The wire was suspected to be ripped off by a violent pull, he said.

The bomb was planted at the foot of the post of the roadside traffic sign indicating unusual motive of the planter, he said.

The explosion happened at the area where authorities normally gathered before going out on the operation to dismantle encroached property on the Phu Tap Berk mountain retreat. They planned an operation again this week, he said.

However the meeting was called off half an hour later after EOD soldiers found more suspecious electric wires in the area and ordered everyone to leave for safety reason.

The explision killed the 63-year-old bus driver Suan Onta, a resident of Lomkao district of Phetchabun province.

Bomb at Phu Tap Berk mountain retreat may intend on authorities tasked to dismantle encroached property - Thai PBS English News

Originally Posted by misskit

The explosion happened at the area where authorities normally gathered before going out on the operation to dismantle encroached property on the Phu Tap Berk mountain retreat. They planned an operation again this week, he said.

It seems the bomb was meant for the authorities. The bus turns up. The bombers think their target had arrived and detonated the bomb when the driver took a leak.

Now that they know who planted the weapons of mass destruction, they can now legitimately do home invasions.