A worker was killed in a fireworks factory explosion in northern Thailand on Wednesday afternoon.

Tun Duangjit, 65, had been preparing the explosives at his house that also served as a fireworks manufacturing facility in Chiang Mai province on November 15.

But while Tun was working alone, the gunpowder suddenly ignited, with the ensuing blast ripping through a portion of the home.

The Chiang Mai Provincial Police said they received a report about the explosion at 4:20 pm. Police officers from the San Sai district along with rescue teams and paramedics were dispatched to the scene.

They found the property in ruins, with the windows shattered and debris strewn in the garage near the fireworks warehouse.

Tun was discovered dead at the scene, having lost an arm and a leg to the blast.

Authorities said Tun had been operating the factory for a long time, and had been increasing production in time for the upcoming Loy Krathong and Yi Peng lantern festivals.

Police said they were investigating the cause of the explosion, which comes after a similar blast a fireworks factory in Narathiwat province in the south of the country killed 10 people on July 29 this year.