Life-or-death moment! A tenant living near an armory recalls the explosion just 300 meters away. Her foreign boyfriend was shocked and their 13-year-old dog ran frantically. They no longer dared to stay and are preparing to move away permanently.
On 25 Feb 2026 CE, a fire broke out at the armory inside the 21st Border Patrol Police Company (Surin Phakdi Camp) in Surin Province. Continuous explosions occurred, causing significant damage to the weapons storage. Initial investigations suggest the cause was heat buildup inside the armory. The incident happened around 19:40 on 24 Feb 2026 CE, as previously reported.
"Khun Aemor," a tenant living just 300 meters from the armory explosion site, said that when the first blast occurred, she and her foreign boyfriend thought it was a border clash between Thailand and Cambodia, which they frequently heard. However, when a second, more powerful explosion followed, and flames appeared from the kitchen, her boyfriend—who had previous communist war experience—immediately realized this was not a transformer explosion but an armory blast. He ordered them to abandon all belongings and flee at once.
Amid ongoing explosions, the couple had to rush their 13-year-old Thai dog named "Pitti" out in panic. They also coordinated with authorities to briefly return to the house to retrieve heart medication for her boyfriend before evacuating to a hotel. Their home was unsafe, with the ceiling collapsed and shattered glass scattered everywhere.
They now plan to move out permanently, even though they had only rented the house for one year and were unaware the area was near a weapons storage. The incident has caused significant psychological trauma.
Khun Aemor said that although she regrets leaving the house, she is grateful their lives are safe and their equipment was unharmed. Nevertheless, she has decided not to renew the lease and will move elsewhere for long-term safety.