One person has been killed and four others injured after a massive fire broke out at a chemical storage tank in Rayong province, Thailand. The blaze, which occurred at the Mab Ta Phut Industrial Estate, has sent a thick cloud of black smoke into the air and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
**Rayong, Thailand** - At least one person has been killed and four others were injured after a huge fire broke out at a chemical storage tank in an Eastern Thailand industrial park on Thursday.
The fire, which erupted at the Mab Ta Phut Industrial Estate, was first reported in the morning and raged for more than six hours before it was contained. Firefighters estimated that it might take more than 10 hours to fully extinguish the flames, according to the Rayong province's public relations department.
About 400 workers and residents have been evacuated to a temporary shelter, the department said.
The tank, which has a storage capacity of 2,500 cubic meters, belongs to the Mab Ta Phut Tank Terminal company, which operates a commercial port and storage terminal for petrochemical products. Officials said the tank contained Pyrolysis gasoline, a mixture of chemicals commonly used in gasoline blending.
Videos and photos from the scene show a huge plume of black smoke and raging fire engulfing a white tank that was standing close to several others.
The company said in a statement that it is investigating the cause of the fire and will implement measures to prevent it from happening again. It expressed its condolences and said the company is ready to provide compensation to those affected.
In 2021, the company was ordered to cease operations temporarily after another one of its storage tanks erupted and caught fire, killing three and seriously injuring two.
The Mab Ta Phut Industrial Estate is Thailand's largest industrial estate, and is home to over 1,000 factories and businesses. The estate is located about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand.
The fire is the latest in a series of industrial accidents that have occurred in Thailand in recent years. In 2021, a fire at a plastics factory in Samut Prakan province killed at least 25 people and injured dozens more. In 2022, a fire at a firecracker factory in Nakhon Ratchasima province killed at least 35 people and injured dozens more.
The Thai government has vowed to improve safety standards at industrial facilities in the country, but critics say that more needs to be done to prevent future accidents.
