The Map Ta Phut industrial estate chief has confirmed reports of a blast at a steel factory that killed one worker and injured another on July 20.
Director Pratheep Aeng-Chuan initially rebuffed reports of the blast at Siam Tinplate Co in Rayong's Muang district after villagers reported hearing an explosion there.
After the incident there was widespread talk among villagers that the explosion killed a worker, identified as Pranai In-phanao, 48.
Pranai was reportedly a Siam Tinplate Co employee who quit his job to start his own company offering maintenance services for the factory.
He was thought to have been hired by the factory to fix a chemical container and was working there when the blast took place.
Mr Pratheep yesterday apologised for the conflicting information, saying he was informed by police later that the explosion had in fact taken place, killing a man and injuring another worker.
The factory failed to notify the estate as soon as the blast took place, he said.
Mr Pratheep said the victim was the owner of a maintenance company, who had arrived to upgrade a pipe system of empty containers used to store sodium hydroxide.Sparks from the maintenance work might have dropped into the container and caused the explosion, he said.
The director said Siam Tinplate Co was at fault for the miscommunication.
The firm had failed to inform the estate's safety information centre about the incident.
Mr Pratheep said he had ordered the factory to close operations for 30 days for an inspection.