Disasters & Accidents

1 dead, 33 injured in massive blast, fire at factory in Bangkok

(Updates with number of injured and evacuees)

Bangkok, Jul 5 (EFE).- At least one person died and 33 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.

The incident also forced the evacuation of 1,892 people.

At a press conference, Bangkok Governor Wanchai Konggasem said the deceased was a 19-year-old volunteer firefighter.

Wanchai added that 70 houses and 15 vehicles were damaged by the explosion at the factory, which produces polystyrene foam and is located in Samut Prakan province, adjacent to Bangkok.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of residents within a radius of 5 kilometers and set up a secure perimeter of up to 10 kilometers, although they insist that another explosion is unlikely.

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.

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