BMA gets ready to ban fireworks, sky lanterns during Loy Krathong
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is getting a new set of regulations ready to control and even prohibit all types of fireworks and sky lanterns in Bangkok during Loy Krathong festival, which falls on Monday.
Violators, especially those releasing sky lanterns that can cause damage to aircraft, can face the death penalty or life in prison.
Chumphon Chaokoh, director of the BMA department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, disclosed that City Hall was currently drafting the ordinance about rules related to the lighting of all types of fireworks and releasing of sky lanterns in Bangkok area.
Though the ordinance is still not ready, the BMA has announced that all types of fireworks and sky lanterns were forbidden during Loy Krathong and anybody violating the restrictions will face three months in jail and/or Bt60,000 in fines.
Chumphon explained that the fireworks banned during Loy Krathong included any form of firecrackers, fireworks, rockets, sky lanterns or anything that resembles these objects.
“Producers and sellers of fireworks are also required by law to register with the local authorities and follow the Health Department’s regulations, otherwise they too will be punished,” he said.
