Firefighters battle for hours overnight to control a major blaze at a rubber tyre plant at Hemaraj Industrial Estate in Rayong’s Pluak Daeng district that destroyed six warehouses. 

The fire broke out around 8pm Sunday at a warehouse of LLIT Thailand Co (Ling Long). About 200 employees working in the factory at the time fled for their lives. The industrial estate’s fire unit had immediately helped to control the fire but it was too strong for them. 

At least 50 fire trucks from Rayong, Chon Buri and Chachoengsao provinces were despatched to battle the flames, which were fanned by a strong wind. 

By around midnight, the fire was reported to have been contained, but not completely extinguished. (continued below)

Pornchai Thomkrachang, Si Racha district chief, said some employees required treatment for smoke inhalation, but there were no major injuries.

Investigators said witnesses reported hearing a loud sound, like an explosion, followed by a fire at a tyre warehouse. Nearby villages were evacuated around 10pm Sunday for fear of a major explosion as the fire was close to gas pipeline. 

Ongart Kamrob, disaster prevention and mitigation of Pluak Daeng municipality, said firefighters were still at the site on Monday morning to ensure the blaze did not re-ignite.

It was tought the fire was started by an electrical short circuit, but forensic tests would begin later today to establish the cause. 

The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand governor Veerapong Chaiperm said the factory had been ordered to shut down for now. The authority had closed the drainage system around the factory site to prevent waste water flowing outside the estate. 

The company’s facility sprawls over 333 rai, with investment of 2.7 billion baht. It currently employs about  600 people. 

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