Disasters & Accidents

1 dead, 26 injured in massive fire at factory in Bangkok

(Updates casualties, reledes)

Bangkok, Jul 5 (EFE).- At least one person died and 26 others were injured in Thailand after a massive explosion and fire at a factory outside the capital Bangkok in the early hours of Monday morning.

Authorities have set up a 5-kilometer perimeter around the site which is close to Suvarnabhumi international airport as well as residential neighborhoods.

The perimeter was set up “due to concerns that the fire could spread to the chemical tank,” a spokesman for the provincial government of Samut Prakan, where the factory is located, told EFE.

The fatality was confirmed as a 19-year-old volunteer who was caught up in the flames, emergency crews said.

The powerful blast was followed by a large fire that consumed much of the factory and sent up a massive plume of black smoke over the Thai capital.

Firefighters were still working to extinguish the blaze at the factory, which manufactures polystyrene foam, late on Monday afternoon.

Residents in the area told EFE that homes located more than one kilometer from the explosion’s epicenter suffered damage such as broken glass windows.

A spokesman for Suvarnabhumi airport told EFE that operations have continued normally, although directors are meeting to discuss the incident.

Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the possible causes of the explosion. EFE

Related Articles

Back to top button