Sisaket: EOD officers successfully recovered and destroyed a BM 21 rocket fired by Cambodia, which was lodged in the ground near a gas station on Kantharalak Road. The incident occurred on July 24 and involved a rocket that also struck a convenience store inside a PTT gas station in Ban Phue.
According to Thai News Agency, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers from the Sisaket Provincial Police, the 22nd Border Patrol Police Station in Ubon Ratchathani, and the National Mine Action Center, Military Command Center, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters (TMAC) were involved in the operation. The BM21 high explosive ordnance was fired into the area and landed on the Kantharalak-Khao Phra Wihan Road in Kantharalak District. The explosion occurred approximately 500 meters from the PTT gas station in Ban Phue and about 1 km from another BM21 rocket that detonated on Kantharalak Road on August 2nd. To ensure safety, officials deployed additional sandbags to create a larger, more secure bunker.
Agencies such as the Kantharalak District Administration, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Kantharalak Highway District assisted in securing the area. Roads within a one-kilometer radius were closed, and power was cut off for safety. An ambulance from Sapphasitthiprasong Hospital was on standby, and media representatives were present to document the operation.
During the recovery of the BM 21 bomb, officials requested media cooperation in maintaining a safe distance while recording the event. Once all safety measures were in place, the bomb was successfully detonated. Officials then inspected the area using a backhoe and bomb detector to ensure no other explosives remained.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Prawit Sutthawong, Deputy Superintendent of the Investigation Division of Sisaket Provincial Police, explained that the BM21 bomb was lodged at an angle, about one meter deep, and required careful handling due to incomplete detonation. Utilizing experience from previous operations, the team reinforced safety measures with sandbags, successfully completing the operation. Sutthawong emphasized the importance of quick and efficient work in civilian areas to allow residents to return safely and highlighted the necessity of cooperation among various agencies.
Officials presented the recovered BM-21 rocket head to the media, confirming that the targets of the attack were the two roadside bombs and the PTT gas station, both hit by BM-21 rockets from Cambodia.