Cause still unknown after plastic pipes go up in black smoke in Phuket
A fire on Monday evening swept through a storage area for huge pipes, which were to be used for a flood prevention project in Phuket City. No injuries were reported as the blaze was limited to the storage area.
The fire began at about 6.30pm at the rear of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (OrBorJor) hospital.
Five fire engines and firefighters took more than an hour to bring the blaze under control. In the meantime social media was abuzz with the plumes of black smoke, which were visible from kilometres away. About 30 plastic water drain-pipes were damaged with an estimated replacement value of about Bt6 million.
Rapeepong Songtawee, 52, a staff member of Siampan Wattana Company said “the company is renting the area for about one year to store this infrastructure equipment, which was to be used in the construction on Surin Road, Phang Nga Road and Soi Weerapong Hongyok. No one was taking care of this place.”
Kongka Sangmuang, the head of the nearby worker’s camp, says he saw the fire start and called other workers to help put out the fire.
Kongka told police that he also saw a man drinking alcohol before the incident, and the man ran out of the storage area when the fire began. The man often drinks in the area, he said. Police took Surapit Tipprasong, 35, to the Phuket City Police Station to assist with their inquiries.
Police later charged Surapit with being drunk and disorderly in public. He told them he didn’t know anything about the fire.
At no stage was the OrBorJor hospital under any threat from the fire, said authorities.
Forensic Police are continuing their investigation to find the cause of the fire.