A family in Thailand’s Sisaket province experienced a startling discovery when their pet dog brought a live hand grenade into their home on July 10. The incident, which occurred in the Bok subdistrict of Non Khun district, prompted an immediate response from local authorities and bomb disposal experts to safely neutralize the explosive device.
Unusual Plaything Leads to Discovery
The homeowner, identified as Rungnapa, recounted returning home to find a rusty, dark-colored, round object near her house. Upon closer inspection, she noticed what appeared to be a safety pin, immediately raising concerns. She moved the object to an open area away from the residence as a safety precaution and inquired about its origin.
Family members initially believed the object to be an old bone or a piece of plastic. However, the discovery of the safety pin by Rungnapa prompted a more serious assessment. It was then revealed that the family’s dog had carried the item home earlier that morning from an undisclosed location and had reportedly been chewing on it outside the house.
“If the dog had bitten the pin or dropped it hard, I don’t know what would have happened. It still gives me chills thinking about it because everyone in the house, including the dog, was close to the grenade all morning,” Rungnapa stated, highlighting the potential danger that had been unknowingly present.
Authorities Respond to Potential Hazard
Following Rungnapa’s discovery, local officials were alerted to the suspicious object. Police and relevant agencies were dispatched to the scene, recognizing the potential for the item to be a live explosive. Upon arrival, officers confirmed the object had been moved to a safe, open area by the homeowner.
An initial inspection by police led to the involvement of an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team. The specialists identified the device as a Chinese-manufactured Type 82-2 fragmentation hand grenade. Despite its heavily rusted exterior, the EOD team confirmed that its critical internal mechanisms remained intact and functional, posing a significant risk of detonation.
Understanding the Risks of Old Ordnance
Officials explained that grenades of this particular type are sometimes discovered in border regions, often having been discarded many years prior. They issued a crucial warning to the public: the presence of rust on old ordnance does not indicate that it has become safe. In fact, aging explosives can be even more unpredictable, as their internal components may be unstable and cannot be reliably assessed from the outside.
The EOD team carefully transported the live grenade to a secluded rice field, a considerable distance from the residential area. There, they conducted a controlled explosion to safely neutralize the device. Reports indicated that the detonation created a crater approximately 30 centimeters deep and 60 centimeters wide, serving as clear evidence that the grenade was still operational and capable of causing harm.
Public Safety Advisory Issued
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of this incident. However, district officials used the event to reinforce important safety guidelines for the community. Residents were strongly advised against touching, moving, or attempting to examine any object that resembles a grenade, ammunition, or other forms of military ordnance.
Instead, the public is urged to immediately notify the relevant authorities upon discovering such items. This ensures that trained specialists can respond promptly and manage the situation with the necessary expertise and safety protocols, preventing potential tragedies.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance, even in seemingly ordinary circumstances, and underscores the importance of heeding official safety advice.
