BANGKOK, April 21 – Two Army privates were wounded in an explosion of an M79 recoilless anti-tank rocket during maintenance cleaning duties of the military weapons at the 3rd infantry battalion in Dusit district.
The incident occurred around 11 am Sunday in the compound of the 1st infantry regiment. The injured were sent to Phramongkutklao Hospital. One of the privates was injured in the arm and the other in the legs and their conditions are quite critical. Six other army personnel suffered hearing difficulties.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, army spokesman, said the commander ordered his subordinates to inspect and clean the weapons before the visit of another unit next week.
The cause of the explosion is still unknown, he said. A committee will conduct a probe to determine the cause. The M79 anti–tank shell may have exploded due to the hot weather or from human error, he added.
