Pattaya, Thailand – A 58-year-old Belgian tourist suffered burn injuries early Thursday morning after a power bank exploded inside his trouser pocket while he was at a beer bar on the city’s famous Walking Street.
The incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. on January 29th, 2026, prompting an urgent response from Pattaya City Special Affairs officers and rescue teams after receiving reports of an injured foreign tourist.
Upon arrival at the scene inside the bar on Walking Street officials found the victim, identified as Mr. Segers, in significant pain. He had sustained thermal burns (burn wounds from heat) to his left thigh.
First aid was administered on site by responders, after which relatives and friends quickly transported him to Pattaya City Hospital for further medical treatment.
According to a bar employee who witnessed the event and requested anonymity, the tourist had been sitting and drinking normally in the establishment. The employee, seated nearby, heard a sudden loud explosion followed by flames erupting from the man’s trouser pocket. The power bank, carried in his pocket, detonated and caught fire, falling to the floor amid the chaos.
The explosion also set the victim’s trousers alight, causing panic among patrons. Bar staff and officials extinguished the flames, removed the injured man from the area, and alerted emergency services.
Inspection of the damaged power bank revealed it had melted and been severely charred by the fire.
Authorities and witnesses explained the importance of caution when using and carrying electronic devices, particularly power banks that are non-standard, counterfeit, or damaged. Such items pose a risk of overheating, short-circuiting, or exploding, potentially leading to serious injuries.
