A fire erupted at a new water park in Khon Kaen on Saturday morning, sending visitors fleeing for their safety. No one was hurt.
Clouds of black smoke rise from the Dino Water Park in Khon Kaen on Saturday morning. (Photo by Jakkrapan Nathanri)
Sparks from a welding torch touched off the blaze at the Dino Water Park, which opened just two weeks ago on Mittraparb Road in tambon Muang Kao in Muang District, said Pol Col Meechai Sutthiprapa, a deputy tourism police inspector.
Thick black smoke from burning plastic foam caused panic among children and adults who were playing at the water park and its amusement zone. They quickly ran from the area.
Fire trucks and firefighters from Khon Kaen municipality and Muang Kao tambon rushed to the scene to contain the flames. The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes and nobody was injured.
The fire broke out on a stage that had been built to resemble a volcanic crater, said Pol Col Nopadon Pensut, the Khon Kaen police chief.
He said workers on the site were welding the roof of the stage, causing sparks to fall into the Styrofoam volcanic crater. Damage was estimated at 100,000 baht.
The water park, the largest in the Northeast, was just opened to the public on April 11, said Withit Thongsophit, the mayor of Muang Kao municipality.
The park was ordered to close for repairs, which would take three to five days, said the mayor.