Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered an inspection of all chemical warehouses in the country in light of the series of fires reported over the past couple of weeks, according to government spokesman Chai Wacharonke yesterday.
Mr Srettha's order came after another fire was reported at a chemical warehouse owned by President Chemical Co Ltd in Bang Mot neighbourhood, in Bangkok's Chom Thong district yesterday.
The fire was first reported at 2.10am, after locals saw smoke over the warehouse and detected a strong chemical smell.
The Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department's Hazardous Materials Team reached the warehouse at 4am, where they found 12 barrels of chemical waste leaking.
According to Nutthapong Meepokkij, Chom Thong district director, two of the leaking barrels contained thiourea, a compound often used as a fertiliser, which may contaminate the local water table.
Bang Mot Station inspector Pol Lt Col Kampol Kaewmeechai said the warehouse was built over two decades ago and has never reported any leaks in the past.
He said the company also frequently conducts drills to prepare employees in the event of a toxic chemical leak.
The blaze came just days after a similar incident was reported at a facility owned by Win Process Co in Rayong on Monday, prompting the evacuation of local residents.
The Ministry of Industry and other related agencies have been asked to carry out an inspection as soon as possible, as many chemicals are heat sensitive and might ignite in the current hot weather, the spokesman said.
Mr Chai said the government will also draw up a proactive plan to prevent chemical leaks in such facilities in the future.
He said the premier is scheduled to go to Rayong tomorrow to inspect the chemical warehouse owned by Win Process Co, which caught fire on Monday.
As of yesterday, firefighters had managed to contain the fire, but it had yet to be fully extinguished.
The blaze in Bangkok was the third chemical warehouse fire this year, after a fire in Ayutthaya on Feb 29 and the Rayong blaze on Monday.
Industry Minister Pimphattra Wichaikul has ordered his permanent secretary and the Industrial Works Department to warn factories about the risk of fires.