Air, water quality to be checked after dump catches fire again
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THE DEPARTMENT of Industrial Works (DIW) is checking the quality of air and water around the old Praksa dumpsite in Samut Prakan province out of concern that yesterday's fire spread harmful contaminants.
The fire broke out early yesterday, causing a stampede among scrap workers in the area.
More than 20 fire trucks rushed in to control the blaze, which was finally extinguished early in the afternoon. As of press time, some weak white fumes were visible.
A scientist for the department, Viroj Jitweranunrungsri, said they stepped in to check the quality of air and water after learning that industrial waste had been illegally dumped at the site.
“If we find evidence that these reports are true, then we will take legal action against the offenders,” he said.
Though this dumpsite has been closed for a decade already, it is believed that some people continue to illegally dump industrial waste there.
A big fire erupted on this dumpsite last year and raged on for several weeks, spreading toxic fumes across many districts of Samut Prakan, as well as nearby areas of Bangkok.
Tambon Praksa Administrative Organisation’s vice chairman Mongkhon Kongbamrung said yesterday there were no casualties from yesterday’s fire, but it remained unclear how the fire began. Police are checking to see if the cause of the fire may have been accidental or arson among other things.
Samut Prakan police chief Maj-General Tana Chuwong said the fire destroyed a small hut and a motorcycle. The dumpsite’s owner Sompong Narinsuksanti, 61, said he had allowed workers to erect huts at the site so they could continue earning a living by picking out recyclable garbage for sale.
“They said they woke up in the middle of the night when the fire got near. They tried to put out the flames, but in vain,” he said, adding that he suspects a short circuit may have caused the fire.
“Short circuits happen often as mice chew on electrical cables.”
