Thai PM confer with officials on factory explosion

BANGKOK, May 6 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra early on Sunday flew to the eastern province of Rayong to visit victims of a petrochemical plant explosion, and seek out measures to prevent the incident from reoccurring. Industry Minister Mom Rajawongse Pongsavas Svasti, one of the senior officials accompanying Miss Yingluck during the day, said so far 12 people were killed and up to 105 others injured in Saturday’s explosion at a unit of Bangkok Synthetics Plant in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. The minister said by Sunday morning, 25 injured people remained hospitalised, three of them with serious wounds. Most injured people suffered from inhaling toxic gases which affected their respiratory system. He said damages were now being estimated and the company had pledged compensation. Meantime, the plant had been closed while security tests on chemical factories were held within Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. People living near the industrial estate who were evacuated earlier for safety reasons were expected to return home later on Sunday after about 20 per cent of harmful hydrocarbon substances were found in the area. Authorities had ordered a probe into the incident, and said the explosion erupted during a maintenance-run on the plant, saying it was an error committed by the staff. (TNA)