Hours after a factory chemical leak prompted stay-indoors warnings to the surrounding community, officials today said no harmful chemicals were detected in a 20-kilometer radius.
Attapol Charoenchansa, Pollution Control Department chief, said officers checked six spots within 20 kilometers of Indorama Polyester Industries in Nakhon Pathom’s Nakhon Chai Si district and found no chemicals dangerous to people’s health.
The six venues the authorities checked included Sam Phran Hospital, Mahidol University International Demonstration School, Kanjanapisek Witthayalai Nakhon Pathom School, and Phra Tamnak Suankulab Mahamongkol School. The three schools mentioned were shut yesterday due to the chemical leak.
Northwest Bangkok advised to stay home due to chemical leak
The factory has been ordered by officials to close for 15 days pending inspection. While there has been no official cause for the leak, officials suspect it was caused by a pipe leak. No injuries have been reported.
On Thursday morning, about 30 liters of biphenyl and diphenyl oxide – which are aromatic chemical compounds – leaked from the plant. The chemicals quickly spread and affected residents not only in Nakhon Pathom, but in some parts of Bangkok and Nonthaburi, who complained about the strong odor.
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Northwest Bangkok advised to stay home due to chemical leak
