Thailand's Bangkok Synthetics fire and explosion kills 12 on 5 May

07 May 2012 04:17  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Explosions and fire at a Bangkok Synthetics’ (BST) facility at Map Ta Phut in Thailand’s Rayong province over the weekend left at least 12 people dead and 125 injured, according to local media reports.

The blaze, which started on 5 May was extinguished early on Sunday. It forced the evacuation of workers at the plant and more than 1,000 residents surrounding the Map Ta Phut industrial estate, the reports said.

The exact cause of the blast has yet to be identified, according to the BBC.

Thailand-based newspaper The Nation said that the accident occurred at BST’s synthetic tyre furnace at the site.

Thailand’s industry minister Pongsvas Svasti has ordered the closure of the BST unit, the Bangkok Post said.

The facility can produce 140,000 tonnes/year of butadiene and 55,000 tonnes/year of MTBE.

The firm also has a 55,000 tonne/year butadiene rubber (BR) line at the site.

BST and Siam Cement could not be immediately reached for comment.

Thailand’s Siam Cement has a 20% stake in the BST plant at Map Ta Phut.

By: Nurluqman Suratman

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