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Terrifying moment elephant tramples five people after being scared of fireworks at a Thai festival

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The huge elephant was spotted charging through a crowd of revelers at a festival

This is the terrifying moment an elephant, startled by fireworks, trampled five festival-goers in Thailand.

Plai Khun Thong, 10, and his caregiver Sanga, 46, arrived at a fairground on January 18 to sell sugar cane to visitors in Nong Bua Lamphu province.

However, the male elephant went on a rampage when he was startled by a barrage of fireworks set off for the carnival’s opening ceremony.

Footage showed the beast knocking down and trampling several pedestrians as terrified villagers scattered in panic.

The elephant plowed through the crowds and fled through tents and stalls as it tried to escape the explosions.

Authorities said five people were injured and rushed to the provincial hospital. No serious injuries were reported.

One of the injured villagers, a grandmother named Yanee, 51, said she was walking with her grandson when she heard people shouting behind her.

She added: “I turned around to see what was happening and saw the elephant running towards me.

The huge elephant was spotted charging through a crowd of revelers at a festival

Terrifying footage showed the wild beast trampling guests

Terrifying footage showed the wild beast trampling guests

The male elephant went on a rampage when he was startled by a barrage of fireworks set off for the carnival's opening ceremony

The male elephant went on a rampage when he was startled by a barrage of fireworks set off for the carnival’s opening ceremony

10-year-old jumbo Plai Khun Thong was taken to the fair by his caretaker Sanga, 46 years old

10-year-old jumbo Plai Khun Thong was taken to the fair by his caretaker Sanga, 46 years old

‘I couldn’t react in time and it hit me. I fell and twisted my ankle, but my grandson was fine. We’re lucky we weren’t crushed.”

Local Governor Surasak Aksornkul said he has ordered officials to help the injured civilians.

He said: “All the injured have left Nong Bua Lamphu Hospital and returned home.

“They are urged to file a complaint against the elephant’s owner. I have also banned taking elephants to the fair again.’

Police arrested the keeper Sanga, who reportedly admitted that he had not sought permission to bring the elephant to the fairground.

Officer Dejsuwan Srihom said the suspect would be charged for moving the elephant without seeking permission from a livestock office.

The offense is punishable by a maximum prison sentence of one year, a fine of up to £477, or both.

Authorities said five people were injured and rushed to the provincial hospital

Authorities said five people were injured and rushed to the provincial hospital

Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported

Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported

Police arrested the keeper Sanga, who reportedly admitted that he had not sought permission to bring the elephant to the fairground

Police arrested the keeper Sanga, who reportedly admitted that he had not sought permission to bring the elephant to the fairground

Thailand has approximately 4,000 elephants in captivity. They are forced to work at tourist attractions, in hidden cultural ceremonies or for private hire or in the logging industry.

Animal rights groups have repeatedly called for a ban on the ownership and use of elephants, but the majority of locals, including politicians, refuse to stop the abuse.

Although the creatures are mostly 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 Center in Phang Nga province.

She reportedly slipped and accidentally grabbed the trunk, causing the animal to slam her into the rocky pool.

On December 15, farmer Thodsaporn Phiannukulbut, 45, was fishing in a canal when a bull emerged from the nearby sugar cane field and trampled him to death in Prachinburi province.

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