TRAT - A fire at a garbage dump near Pailin beach in Khlong Yai district in the early hours of Friday sent thick smoke billowing over the nearby community.
District health officials distributed protective masks on Friday morning to residents living near the dump site, to help prevent respiratory problems arising from the smoke.
The rubbish tip, located in the tambon Mai Rood special economic development zone, caught fire around 3am. Thick smoke blew over the tambon, affecting residents in the area.
Three fire trucks and crews were sent to battle the flames, which were spreading over piles of dry plastic for a distance of 500 metres.
Khampan Yubumart, 62, a scavenger in Mai Rood, said the thick smoke irritated his nose and gave him a sore throat. He was forced to abandon his makeshift hut near the dump and return to his house, about 2km away. This was the fifth or sixth fire at the dump over the last year, he said.
Firemen took more than two hours to put out the blaze.
The cause of the fire was being investigated, said Surasak Intharaprasert, chairman of Mai Rood tambon administration organisation.
Firemen hose down the burning mounds of rubbish in Khlong Yai district, Trat, on Friday (Photo by Jakkrit Waewkraihong)