Seven-hundred people were injured when a cargo ship carrying unregistered chlorine exploded this past weekend at Thailand’s deep-sea port southeast of Bangkok, the government reported Wednesday.
At least 150 of those injured had to be hospitalized for treatment after containers holding a chlorine compound exploded after catching fire on a cargo ship docked at terminal A2 of the Laem Chabang port. It produced a chemical cloud that caused extensive eye, respiratory and skin trauma. The hospital is discharging about 60 people who have recovered enough to go home.
There were no reported fatalities; damages are pinned at over THB100 million (US$3.1 million).
The chemical fire broke out early Saturday morning on a South Korean vessel, the KMTC Hong Kong. It burned overnight and wasn’t put out until Sunday, according to the port’s director, Lt. Yutthana Mokkhao.
Fire, explosion at Chonburi port injures 25
The 13 containers of calcium hypochlorite had not been declared to port authorities, according to the government public relations department. An unnamed shipping representative said the products were heading to a private pier on the Chao Phraya River.
The cause of the fire and explosion is being investigated by a police forensics unit.
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