No one is sure why a lantern was sent soaring with a load of explosives during a Chiang Rai temple religious rite, but it didn’t end well.
Although Wat Chetuphon notified authorities they were launching a really big sky lantern, they left out the part about the homemade explosives, which fell from the sky and exploded, damaging a vehicle and utility pole yesterday.
“I thought it was the electric pole exploding,” said Sunthree Jaiya, a nearby grocer. “Then there were many more explosions.”
Khaosod English reports flaming remnants of the floating bomb had to be pulled down from the utility pole, at which point police discovered a bundle of homemade explosives had been attached to the lantern.
A temple staff member, Thanorm Phamung, 72, apologized to police and said the temple would pay for any damage. The damaged car belonged to a 24-year-old government worker who said she “bought it only five months ago.”
Just Sunday government officials announced their latest bid to bring the floating, fiery lanterns under control.
Photo: Courtesy Khaosod News
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