A fire raged through a palm oil factory in Samut Sakhon province early on Tuesday, sending panicked workers fleeing for their safety, with one sustaining burns.
The blaze at the warehouse of Kimkee Kijcharoen Co, manufacturer of palm oil, in tambon Ban Koh in Muang district of Samut Sakhon, broke out about 3.30am on Tuesday, police said.
At least 10 fire trucks and crews from the Muang municipality and nearby areas rushed to battle the flames whch rapidly engulfed the one-story building along the Tha Chin River.
The warehouse, also used to store machinery and other equipment, was gutted. Strong winds hampered firefighters’ efforts to combat the blaze and it took them more than three hours to bring it under control.
One worker sustained burns and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Police said about 10 employees were working the night shift when they saw flames and thick smoke coming from the machinery section. The fire quickly spread and and they fled in panic.
An investigation has begun into the cause of the fire. Damage was still being assessed.
Photos by Panumas Sanguanwong