The owners of the fireworks warehouse in Narathiwat, which exploded on Saturday, levelling hundreds of homes and killing 12 people, will be arrested if they fail to report to the police today, said Provincial Police Region 9 commissioner, Pol Lt Gen Nanthadej Yoinuan yesterday.
His warning came after he received the latest update on the situation from local authorities, police and army officers.
Sompong Nakul, 42, and his wife, Piyanuch Peungwirawat, 42, are listed as the owners of Wirawat Panich -- a company which trades in agricultural products, household items and fireworks.
They have been summoned by the police to acknowledge a slew of criminal charges, which include negligence causing death, as well as importing and selling fireworks without a licence, which is a violation of the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Fireworks Act.
A police source said back in 2016, Mr Sompong was arrested for storing and selling fireworks and other flammable materials without a permit.
According to Pol Lt Gen Nanthadej, several workers were welding when the sparks lit up some of the fireworks stored in the warehouse, causing a massive explosion.
The Department of Provincial Administration's (DoPA) director-general, Manrat Rattanasukhonhas, has ordered all district chiefs nationwide to inspect the safety standards and licences of all fireworks warehouses in the province.
The order followed the explosion at a fireworks warehouse in tambon Muno, which killed 12 people, injuring 121 and damaging 292 houses.
Yotdanai Bula, whose father perished in the tragedy, told the Post that his father had repeatedly warned the owner of the warehouse to stop storing large amounts of fireworks in the warehouse, which is located in the middle of the neighbourhood.
Yesterday Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, permanent secretary for public health, said His Majesty the King has offered to pay for the treatment of 10 people who were severely injured by the blast at Sungai Kolok Hospital in Narathiwat.
Meanwhile, Dr Chaiwat Pattanapisarnsak, from Narathiwat's Public Health Office, said the blast has affected the psychological well-being of 365 people from 290 households.