Factory inferno kills 1, at least 60 injured

[PeteC]

This is a huge deal today, in case you haven't come across it yet in your News feeds. They've now evacuated 5km from the site in fear of additional explosions. Check your sources for updates tonight and tomorrow.

Factory inferno kills 1, at least 60 injured

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... 60-injured (Video at link)

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... 21-injured

c1_2143767.jpg (147.58 KiB) Viewed 744 times

One rescuer was killed and more than 60 people injured in an overnight explosion and inferno at a chemical factory that continued to send black smoke into the sky over Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan late into Monday afternoon.

Helicopters, some from the army, were called in to help firefighters spray flame retardant foam over the burining Ming Dih Chemical Co factory complex.

They were battling to keep the advancing flames away from further stores of chemicals at the site, and prevent another explosion.

Authorities warned of toxic fumes being generated by the burning chemicals.

Resue foundations reported one of their firefighters was killed by the fire and 12 others were injured. Fifty other people were also hurt.

The initial explosion, which was felt nine kilometres away, damaged 73 houses and 15 cars in the nearby neighbourhood.

Thai Rath identified the dead victim as Kornsith Laophan, 18, who was killed as he and other volunteers were fleeing flames surging from a store of chemicals. He stumbled and was overtaken by the fire.

The Taiwanese-owned factory manufactures plastic foam and pellets.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said the inferno began with an explosion about 3.20am. What set it off was not known.

Homes within a five-kilometre radius were evacuated amid fears of further explosions of the reported 50 tonnes of chemicals stored at the premises.

Firefighters and helicopters were reportedly trying to defend one particular area that held 20,00 litres of chemicals.

Pollution Control Department director-general Attapol Charoenchansa warned people that styrene monomer fumes from the blaze were carcinogenic .

The fire was about 10 kilometres from Suvarnabhumi airport, and the black smoke rising above the fire was clearly visible from there. However, airport deputy managing director Krittiya Konthong said flights were not being affected.

A few more photos here: https://thethaiger.com/news/central-tha ... en-injured

[PeteC]

Current danger zones. Red = people out already. Orange = high alert and standby to go. Yellow = caution and prepare.

We have a friend who lives in "Yellow" and they have gone to a hotel already, as it's reported that the fire has re-started to some degree in other buildings, and the air in the area is foul with the smell of chemicals.

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[PeteC]

More.....

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... -explodes/

BANGKOK (AP) — A massive explosion at a chemical factory on the outskirts of Bangkok early Monday killed at least one person, injured dozens more and damaged scores of homes, while prompting the evacuation of a wide area over fears of poisonous fumes and the possibility of additional denotations.

The fire broke out at around 3 a.m. at a foam and plastic pellet manufacturing factory just outside Bangkok near Suvarnabhumi Airport, with the explosion blowing out windows of surrounding homes and sending debris raining from the air.

The blast could be heard for kilometers (miles) and surveillance footage from a nearby house captured the bright flash and boom, followed by the damage to the home and the one next door from the shockwaves.

The main blaze at the Ming Dih Chemical factory had been brought under control by mid-morning, but an enormous tank containing the chemical styrene monomer continued to burn, said local disaster prevention official Chailit Suwannakitpong.

Late in the afternoon, dense clouds of black smoke continued to billow from the site and helicopters tried to navigate close enough to dump fire retardant onto it, initially with little apparent success.

Authorities said 62 people had been injured, including 12 involved in the firefighting and rescue efforts, and one person had been confirmed killed.

Styrene monomer, a hazardous liquid chemical used in the production of disposable foam plates, cups and other products, can produce poisonous fumes when ignited. Chailit said officials were trying to move all people out of the area, including doctors and patients from the neighborhood’s main hospital where many of the casualties were initially treated, over fear of the fumes and the possibility of more explosions.

The chemical itself also emits styrene gas, a neurotoxin, which can immobilize people within minutes of inhalation and can be fatal at high concentrations. Last year in the Indian city of Visakhapatnam, a leak of styrene gas from a chemical factory killed 12 people and sickened more than 1,000.

Authorities were carefully monitoring the air in the area around the fire and Pollution Control Department official Thalerngsak Petchsuwan urged anyone remaining in the vicinity to close their doors and windows to avoid inhaling any fumes.

“Those who breathe it in can get dizzy and vomit and it might cause cancer in the long term,” he said.

Firefighters could be seen in photos from Thai media climbing through twisted steel wreckage of the complex’s warehouses to get their hoses close enough to the flames as they fought to control the blaze. The charred body of the only fatality identified so far — a male volunteer rescue worker — lay face down among the wreckage.

The area around the blast is a mixture of older industrial complexes and newer housing developments that were built after the opening of the airport in 2006.

Jaruwan Chamsopa, who lives about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the factory, said the loud explosion in the middle of the night broke her house’s windows, damaged the roof and caused parts of the ceiling to tumble down. She said the windows of every house on her road were broken as well.

“I was shocked when the explosion took place,” she told The Associated Press. “I came out and saw a big fire in the sky.”

She said she and her husband and mother didn’t evacuate until 8 a.m.

“I didn’t realize that it would be such a dangerous chemical that I have to evacuate,” she said. “I am worried because the black smoke reached my house.”

Authorities ordered the evacuation of an area 5 kilometers (3 miles) around the scene and evacuation centers were set up in a school and a government office for those forced from their homes.

Volunteer rescue worker Anyawut Phoampai told Thailand public tv station TPBS that early efforts to find people possibly still in the factory were hampered by the time it took to bring the fire under control.

“The flames are quite high so it takes quite an effort,” he said as the rescue effort was underway.

He said rescuers also fanned out around the area to help people who reported being injured by falling debris.

There was no immediate word on what might have caused the fire in Bang Phli district, and the company was not reachable by phone.

The initial explosion shook the terminal building at Suvarnabhumi, setting off alarms at Bangkok’s main international airport.

Airport officials said in a statement that no flights had been canceled but that it was continuing to monitor the situation and was prepared to “put in place contingency plans in case of emergency.” It said it would not compromise on safety.

[PeteC]

It's reignited yet again! Smoke as heavy and widespread as the first blaze. Photo and video at link.

Fire rekindles at burned-out plastics factory

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... cs-factory

[HHTel]

After looking at some pics yesterday, and considering that these fumes are highly poisonous, I was flabbergasted at seeing so many, including some emergency workers, without masks, in some cases not even a covid mask!

Firefighters working in this environment should be equipped with oxygen equipment.

[Big Boy]

A big fire tonight at Floral Manufacturing Group Co., Ltd., a factory within Lat Krabang Industrial Estate Zone 3, Lat Krabang District, Bangkok.⁣ This is the second big factory fire in two days.

[Thailightzone]

Many factories identified as covid hotspots so closed with staff being sent home.
I wouldn't be surprised to find out this event is a result of perhaps some temperature or pressure sensitive storglage left unattended.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

[pharvey]

Many factories identified as covid hotspots so closed with staff being sent home.
I wouldn't be surprised to find out this event is a result of perhaps some temperature or pressure sensitive storglage left unattended.

It's a valid point that's for sure.....

[centermid7]

Valid point??? Hardly. Pure speculation is what it is. It may turn out to be "valid" but good chance we will never hear about it if that should turn out to be the cause.

[HHTel]

People are a little testy this morning!

[sateeb]

People are a little testy this morning!

Indeed, I was going to comment that the poster was ONLY forwarding a theory and not stating it as fact. Are we losing the right to theorise now in these super sensitive days?

[handdrummer]

People are a little testy this morning!

Indeed, I was going to comment that the poster was ONLY forwarding a theory and not stating it as fact. Are we losing the right to theorise now in these super sensitive days?

We need more censorship! Too many people are being allowed to speak their mind. If this continues it may cause an outbreak of thinking.

[Thailightzone]

People are a little testy this morning!

Indeed

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.