RAYONG, 10 June 2014 (NNT) – Fire broke out at IRPC Plc.'s diesel production plant in Rayong following an explosion on Monday, sending columns of black smoke into the air. Meanwhile, a foul-smelling odor still prevailed over Asia Industrial Estate in Ban Chang district of Rayong, extending local residents' plight into the third day.
The explosion at the IRPC plant sent tremors through homes of locals in Choeng Noen sub-district in Rayong's Mueang district. Officials have the flames contained, but not extinguished, due to safety protocol dictating that gas and oil must be separated first. The cause of the explosion was said to be a leak in a hydrogen gas pipe.
The IRPC management said the incident would hamper the company's overall production capacity.
Locals in nearby areas have all been evacuated. However, no one was injured from the incident.
In the meantime, personnel at Asia Industrial Estate have located the source of the pungent odor. The smell was originating from a waste water treatment pool belonging to a lactic acid production plant. The cause was deemed to be an error in waste water treatment. The plant has scaled down production of lactic acid to reduce the amount of waste.
The Industrial Estate Authority has ordered the plant to fix its system within 7 days, and sent in a team to monitor the quality of air in the area.
At least 10 people have visited doctors at nearby Maptaphut Hospital due to inhalation of the foul odor.
The source of the previous outbreak of odor, on June 7, has yet to be located.