An oil tanker exploded dramatically this morning, blasting fragments of the ship into the gulf and injuring two nearby residents southwest of Bangkok in Samut Songkhram province.
Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze that devastated the Smoothsea 22 vessel Tuesday morning as it was docked for maintenance at the Ruammit Dock Yard, according to the marine department’s Phuriphat Thirakunphisuth. Crew reportedly were forced to escape danger by leaping from the ship into the gulf.
The cause of the explosion was under investigation.
09.15 น. ขณะนี้เกิดเหตุเพลิงไหม้เรือบรรทุกน้ำมันระเบิดภายในแม่น้ำแม่กลอง ใกล้เคียงวัดปากสมุทร ตำบลแหลมใหญ่ อำเภอเมืองสมุทรสงคราม จังหวัดสมุทรสงคราม pic.twitter.com/Q8GiweAPrM
— FM91 Trafficpro (@fm91trafficpro) January 17, 2023
The explosion rained debris that damaged surrounding homes. Two people were reportedly injured. The explosion happened just after 9am, according to security camera footage.
คลิป ช่วงเรือบรรทุกน้ำมันระเบิด ใกล้วัดปากสมุทร สมุทรสงคราม pic.twitter.com/2YLdgha3Iu
— BU (@aodbu) January 17, 2023
Update: Oil tanker explosion kills 1, injures 9
According to public vessel tracking data, the Thai-flagged ship transits between the Koh Sichang port, Bangkok’s Khlong Toei pier, and waters just of Phetchaburi province.
