AYUTTHAYA - A fire gutted a warehouse of a foam factory in Bang Sai district late Friday night, causing 30 million baht in damage. No casualties were reported.
The fire broke out at about 10pm on Friday at one of warehouses of Thai Foam Industry Co on Sena-Pathum Thani Road in tambon Banma, Udomsak Khaonuna, chief of Ayutthaya provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office said on Saturday.
More than 10 fire trucks and 100 firemen, police, soldiers and volunteers were deployed to combat the flames, which were fuelled by raw materials and foam products. Loud bangs were heard as there were 10 gas cylinders inside the fire-gutted warehouse. The fire was later brought under control at 11.30pm.
Chen Jian Song, a Chinese businessman and owner of the factory, said electrical supply in the area often had problems such as power surges or blackouts whenever it rained. On Saturday night, a power surge caused sparks in electrical wires.
The fire destroyed heavy machinery for production, raw materials and the warehouse, causing damage worth more than 30 million baht, said the Chinese owner. His firm was insured, he added.
He urged authorities to solve the problem of power surges and blackouts in the district. Unless the problem was solved, foreign investors would face investment risks.
Kwanchai Therdthunkarnkha, chief of Bang Sai district, said earlier the damage was estimated at about 9-10 million baht. The factory employed 80 workers, but nobody was working at the time, except for security guards, said the district chief.
Firemen are joined by police, soldiers and volunteers to combat the fire at a foam-making factory in Ayutthaya's Bang Sai district on Friday night.
The wreckage of the warehouse after the fire was put out.