At least 17 soldiers killed in Thai blast

At least 17 Thai soldiers were killed today when an army arsenal stocked with rockets and ammunition exploded at a military compound in the north-east of the country.

Dozens of others were also injured in the blast, which destroyed at least eight of the 44 warehouses in 395-acre compound in Pak Chong district.

More than 10,000 residents from the surrounding area were evacuated to temporary shelters 12 miles away as rockets stored at the compound continued to explode for eight hours after the initial blast.

The explosions apparently started after a small blast on a military truck while it was being loaded.

Local government officials have insisted that it was an accident and not an act of sabotage against the army.

A military spokesman said there are more bodies trapped inside the compound, but rescuers cannot get close to the area because of the danger of further blasts.