Bangkok blaze: Chemical chaos erupts as factory fire sparks fears in industrial estate

A chemical factory in Bangkok‘s eastern suburbs of Samut Prakan went up in flames, with explosions echoing within the Bang Pu Industrial Estate, raising concerns about the volatile chemicals stored within.

Chaos erupted in the tranquil Bang Pu Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan province early yesterday morning, December 11. A chemical factory, stockpiled with ammonia, burst into flames, creating an apocalyptic scene. Witnesses reported multiple explosions, with the cacophony reverberating through the air.

Miraculously, amidst the fiery chaos, no injuries or fatalities have been reported at the time of publishing. A factory worker, who narrowly escaped disaster, recounted the incident.

“I heard the explosion around 6am, just as I was leaving the factory after my shift. Flames engulfed the warehouse where chemical products were stored.”

In a race against time, authorities dispatched up to 10 fire trucks to the scene, struggling to quell the relentless inferno. The blaze, fuelled by the volatile chemical stockpile, took approximately an hour to bring under control, reported The Nation.

Residents in the vicinity weren’t spared the horror. Multiple explosions shook the area, with flames and smoke becoming increasingly visible after each blast. Witnesses reported the terrifying sequence, with one resident sharing his experience.

“I grabbed my grandchild and ran out of my home after hearing the explosions. It was too close for comfort.”

As the smoke cleared, police initiated investigations into the cause of the catastrophic incident. Initial estimates suggest staggering losses of around 15 million baht for the damaged factory.

In related news, tragedy struck a longan plantation in Ban Chai Ngam village of Mae Waen subdistrict, Phrao district, Chiang Mai on November 28 when an explosion claimed the lives of three workers.

The incident occurred as they were making a flowering stimulant mixture, resulting in an immediate fatality for two female workers – one Thai and one from Myanmar. Another worker, a man from Myanmar, succumbed to his injuries later that night. Read more about this story HERE.