Explosion at Thai fireworks factory kills at least 21

The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks depot in central Thailand has risen to at least 21, Thai authorities said Thursday.

Police Col. Peerapoj Rawangbarn told CNN the cause is still under investigation following the blast at around 4 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) on Wednesday in Suphan Buri province, north of the capital Bangkok.

Police said the fire around the area had been put out, and that rescue workers and forensic officers were working to retrieve human remains from around the demolished factory.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was briefed on the explosion while at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and ordered an urgent investigation to see if it was caused by negligence, Reuters reported.

Firework accidents are not uncommon in Thailand.

At least 12 people were killed and 121 others injured in an explosion in July last year at a fireworks warehouse in the southern village of Mu No. More than 100 houses were damaged in that blast.

This story has been updated with additional details.