Two women were killed and a man was seriously injured on Tuesday when potassium chlorate, being stored in a house at a longan orchard in Mae Waen sub-district of Chiang Mai province, exploded.
Warut Visitsilp, the district chief officer of Phrao district, who inspected the scene of explosion, said that the potassium chlorate was used to force the flowering of the longan trees in the orchard.
He added that forensic investigators will inspect the house again today, to trace the cause of the explosion and to determine whether the potassium chlorate, which is also used in the manufacture of some ammunition and pyrotechnics, was being stored properly.
