Around 20 people killed in blast at Thai fireworks factory

BANGKOK (Reuters) -- Around 20 people were killed in Thailand in an explosion on Wednesday at a fireworks factory north of Bangkok, police said. Authorities were inspecting the site.

It was not immediately clear what caused the incident, which took place in midafternoon in Suphan Buri province about 120 kilometers north of Bangkok, police said.

"We cannot tell whether all the workers were killed. The officials are entering the site to investigate. They have not found any survivors," provincial Gov. Nattapat Suwanprateep told Reuters.

A police statement said that a preliminary investigation had put the death toll at 20, with many injured.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was briefed on the explosion while at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and urged a swift investigation.

"The prime minister ordered an inspection of the plant to see if it was operating legally and if the explosion was caused by negligence. The law must be enforced to the fullest extent because there are innocent deaths and injuries," Srettha's office said.