Thailand: Dead in explosion in Bangkok

An explosion in a chemical plant near the airport rocked Bangkok. Many people were injured and at least one died. The cause of the accident is still unclear.

A massive explosion near Bangkok Airport killed at least one person. At least eleven other people were injured, one of them seriously, said the Thai authorities. The shock wave also shook one of the terminals.

According to the airport, flights were not canceled. But you are watching the situation and be prepared to put an emergency plan in place, officials said. Authorities said residents within a five-kilometer radius had been evacuated because there was a risk that thousands of liters of chemicals could leak and cause further explosions.

The hospital had to be evacuated

The hospital to which the injured were initially taken also had to be evacuated. Emergency shelters have been set up in schools and government buildings. Volunteers looked for possible other injuries.

In the early morning (local time) a fire broke out in a factory for plastic foam, it was said. The shock of the explosion could still be felt nine kilometers away. Photos from Thai media showed firefighters climbing over bent metal debris to get close enough to the fire with their fire hoses. Helicopters were also used. Other shots showed broken windows and debris on the streets.

The cause of the accident is still unclear

The cause of the accident is still unclear. Hours later, the fire department said the fire at the Ming Dih chemical plant was under control. However, a tank of styrene was still on fire, said Chailit Suwannakitpong of the civil protection agency. This liquid is flammable and can release toxic gases if burned. It said about 50 tons of chemicals were stored in five or six warehouses on the premises of the Ming Dih Chemical Company factory.