Sewage pit gas kills 4 cleaners

Sewage pit gas kills 4 cleaners

Four workers died after inhaling toxic gas while preparing to clean a sewage pit at a Bangkok market on Thursday.

The incident occurred at AC Sai Mai Market in Sai Mai district when four men – Apichart Liangluan, 31, Charnyut Womgsasilpa, 34, and his brother Sakul, 40, and Myanmar national Saw Rae, 38 -- were about to carry out maintenance on a two metre wide and three metre deep sewage pit.

Sai Mai police investigator Pol Capt Sathit Paokaew said Saw Rae opened a metal pit cover, leaned over to look down and fell in.     

Apichart climbed down to help but then did not respond to the calls of Charnyut and Sakul. The siblings then followed their colleagues in a bid to help but later passed out as well.  

A team of rescue workers from Siam Tuam Jai Pu In foundation arrived at the scene and thought the four men had been electrocuted while cleaning the pit. They turned off the electricity for the entire market and Somsak Chomchart, 30, was sent down the pit with a safety rope attached but without a proper mask. Somsak fell unconscious as he tried to climb back up to get fresh air and was pulled to safety by his colleagues. 

The rescue team later managed to bring the four men out of the pit using ropes. The Myanmar worker was pronounced dead at the scene while the three others died in hospital. 

The official cause of death would be released after the autopsies.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (3)