Laem Chabang municipality in Chon Buri province has banned the sale of fireworks and sky lanterns for the Loy Krathong festival on Nov 6, warning their use could endanger a gas storage area and two refineries in the locality.
People launch sky lanterns to celebrate the Loy Krathong festival last November. (Photo by Nattapol Lovakij)
Laem Chabang mayor Jinda Thanomrod said the municipality asked people living near local refineries and the gas storage yard, and visitors to Laem Chabang, to refrain from playing with fireworks and sky lanterns.
Mrs Jinda said fireworks and sky lanterns could fall on the fuel facilities and start fires, and also posed a danger to people's homes. This time of year was quite breezy and firefighting would be more hazardous in these conditions, she said.
The Laem Chabang mayor said there were two refineries and a PTT gas storage yard, as well as many factories in the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate.
The campaign against crackers and sky lanterns would focus on Ao Udom, Ban Thung and Laem Chabang Kao communities, which were adjacent to the refineries and the gas storage area, Mrs Jinda said.
Staff of the Laem Chabang municipality were informing local traders of the local ban on sales of fireworks and sky lanterns, she said.