This is the terrifying moment an elephant that was spooked by fireworks trampled five festival-goers in Thailand.
The 10-year-old jumbo Plai Khun Thong and its keeper Sanga, 46, arrived at a fairground to sell sugarcane to visitors in Nong Bua Lamphu province, on January 18.
However, the male elephant went on a rampage when it was startled by a barrage of fireworks set off for the carnival’s opening ceremony.
Footage captured the beast knocking down and trampling several pedestrians as terrified villagers scattered in panic.
The elephant ploughed through the crowd and bolted through tents and stalls while trying to flee the explosions.
Authorities said five people were injured and rushed to the provincial hospital. No serious injuries were reported.
One of the wounded villagers, a grandmother named Yanee, 51, said she had been walking with her grandson when she heard people screaming behind her.
She added: ‘I turned around to see what was going on, and saw the elephant running towards me.
The huge elephant was seen storming through a crowd of party-goers at a festival
Terrifying footage showed the wild beast trampling over guests
The male elephant went on a rampage when it was startled by a barrage of fireworks set off for the carnival’s opening ceremony
The 10-year-old jumbo Plai Khun Thong was brought to the fairground by its keeper Sanga, 46
‘I couldn’t react in time and it hit me. I fell and twisted my ankle, but my grandson was fine. We are lucky we weren’t crushed.’
Local governor Surasak Aksornkul said he has ordered officials to assist the injured citizens.
He said: ‘All of the injured have left Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital and returned home.
‘They are urged to file a complaint against the elephant owner. I have also banned bringing elephants into the fair again.’
Police have detained the keeper Sanga, who allegedly admitted he did not seek permission to bring the elephant into the fairground.
Officer Dejsuwan Srihom said the suspect would be charged for moving the elephant without seeking permission from a livestock office.
The offence is punishable with a maximum jail term of one year, a fine of up to £477, or both.
Authorities said five people were injured and rushed to the provincial hospital
Luckily, no serious injuries were reported
Police have detained the keeper Sanga, who allegedly admitted he did not seek permission to bring the elephant into the fairground
Thailand has around 4,000 elephants in captivity. They are forced to work at tourist attractions, at benighted cultural ceremonies or owned privately for hire or in the logging industry.
Animal rights groups have made repeated calls to ban the ownership and use of elephants but the majority of locals, including politicians, refuse to stop the abuse.
Though the creatures are usually harmless, there have been several fatal elephant attacks in recent weeks.
On January 3, Spanish tourist Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, was struck by an elephant she was bathing at the Koh Yao Elephant Care centre in Phang Nga province.
She reportedly slipped and accidentally grabbed its trunk, causing the animal to smash her against the rocky pool.
On December 15, farmer Thodsaporn Phiananukulbut, 45, was fishing at a canal when a bull emerged from the nearby sugarcane field and trampled him to death in Prachinburi province.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
