Rayong: A fire broke out at a plastics warehouse in the Map Ta Phut District of Rayong Province, sending plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. The blaze presented a significant challenge for officials due to the factory's construction with metal sheets, which made it difficult to reach the fire's source. Fortunately, the fire has now been contained.
According to Thai News Agency, at 7:30 a.m., officers from Huai Pong Police Station received reports of a fire at a plastic factory situated in the Asia Industrial Estate, near the Som Lon intersection in Huai Pong Subdistrict, Mueang Rayong District. Initial reports indicated that smoke was rising, accompanied by flames and explosions. As the situation developed, the smoke thickened and was carried by winds into the nearby communities of Wat Chak Luk Ya and Huai Pong.
Firefighters from the Map Ta Phut Municipality responded by deploying 10 water trucks to the scene, strategically taking turns to supply water. Although the fire is currently contained, efforts to extinguish it are hindered by the factory's metal sheet structure and fencing, which have allowed the fire to spread quickly. Firefighters are focused on spraying water around the perimeter to prevent the blaze from spreading further.
Workers inside the factory reported that the fire originated in machinery and rapidly spread across Units 1 and 2, which are designated for plastic bag purchasing. All eight workers present in the factory at the time successfully evacuated the premises without injury.
Local residents living near the factory expressed their alarm over the incident. They described the factory as comprising two operations: one for purchasing used plastics and another for producing plastic pellets for large bags. The factory is owned by a Chinese national. Witnesses recounted seeing smoke followed by loud explosions, which left them frightened given the difficulty in controlling the fire.