Toxic gases blamed as 5 die after factory fall in Bang Na
Five people died after a female veterinary student fell into a wastewater treatment pond in the factory of a giant food-processing company in Bangkok’s Bang Na district yesterday morning.
Four factory workers tried to rescue the young woman before they lost consciousness, most likely due to toxic gases, police said.
The victims comprised three men — Pornchai Boonban, 40; Charnchai Phanthunakhin, 42; and Chatree Seethankorn, age unknown — and two women: Ratchanok Saenthaweekun, 24; and Panthika Tasuwan, 23, a student at Chulalongkorn University who was visiting the facility.
Bang Na police were alerted after several people passed out inside the 4-metredeep wastewater pond at the factory that produces poultry feed for Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF) i n Bang Na-Trat Soi 20 at about 11am.
By the time they arrived four of the five were presumed dead and Chatree had been sent to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The police said the air around the pond was thick with the smell of gas, and noted that a ladder rested against its rim.
Rescuers put on gas masks and descended into the pond. They located the four bodies within 30 minutes, police said.
Parisothat Punnabhum, CPF’s senior executive vice president f or human resources, said the tragedy occurred while two students, including Panthika, were being taken on an inspection of the plant.
Ratchanok, the environmental officer leading the tour, jumped in to rescue Panthika while another student sought help from three employees.
They found Ratchanok in the pond with Panthika unconscious, according to the investigation. The staffers then entered the treatment area themselves to pull the two women out.
Initial indications were that they all died due to toxic gas inhalation, police said. Their bodies have been sent to Chulalongkorn Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Mr P ariso that described it as a tragedy and relayed his condolences to the victims’ families.
He said the company has contacted the relatives and promised to help them.
Mr Parisothat said it was unclear how the student fell into the pond as it was a restricted area marked as a danger zone. As CCTV cameras were not installed the truth may not come to light until the police probe wraps up, he said.
He said Panthika may have lost consciousness after inhaling gas.
Mr Parisothat said CPF was in strict compliance with health and safety standards. It rolled out further safety measures to prevent accidents in the plant and wastewatertreatment system, he said.
Employees have received safety training on a regular basis, he added.