BANGKOK: Residents in Suphan Buri have been urged to avoid an area near an ice factory after an ammonia leak was reported close to a school and a residential community in Doem Bang Nang Buat district.
The incident was reported in Khao Phra subdistrict, where rescue workers said ammonia had leaked from an ice factory near Thammachot School.
The Samoe Kan Suphan Buri Rescue Foundation issued an emergency warning, saying officials were responding to the leak and asking people in affected areas to follow safety instructions.
Local administrative officials, disaster prevention personnel and rescue teams were deployed to the scene to block access to the affected area.
A temporary emergency response centre was also set up to assess the situation, monitor wind direction and support efforts to shut off the chemical valve.
Residents in risk areas were advised not to approach the factory and to strictly follow instructions from officials.
Those nearby were told to close doors, windows and ventilation points to reduce exposure to ammonia vapour.
People who experience eye irritation, nose irritation, breathing discomfort, dizziness or other unusual symptoms were advised to leave the area immediately for a well-ventilated location and seek medical assistance or notify officials.
Authorities also asked the public to follow updates from official agencies and avoid sharing unverified information while emergency teams continue to assess the situation.
Ammonia is commonly used in industrial refrigeration systems, including some ice factories. Medical guidance notes that exposure to ammonia can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory system, and higher levels of exposure can cause breathing problems.
Officials are expected to provide further updates if the situation changes. Residents have been urged to cooperate with emergency workers for their own safety and that of the wider community.
Suphan Buri ammonia leak sends 36 to hospital
Thirty-six people were sent to hospital after an ammonia leak at an ice factory in Suphan Buri on Wednesday (July 8) afternoon, prompting the evacuation of students from two nearby schools and an order for safety checks at other ice factories in the province.
Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said he had been informed of the emergency by Bhumjaithai MPs from Suphan Buri and had also received reports from Pornyos Klankrong, director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, and Wichayaphan Ploythapthim, Suphan Buri provincial industry chief.
The incident occurred at Boonwan 2019 Co Ltd in Khao Phra subdistrict, Doem Bang Nang Buat district. The company operates a factory producing small ice blocks.
Leak occurred during valve maintenance
According to the initial report, ammonia in the factory’s refrigeration system leaked from the storage tank of a 120-tonne ice-making machine during maintenance work on a manually operated valve.
Officials said 36 people affected by the leak were taken to hospital, although their symptoms were not severe.
The provincial authorities also ordered the evacuation of students from two nearby schools to safe areas.
Anuban Doem Bang Nang Buat School (Tha Chang), located about 300 metres from the factory, evacuated around 1,000 students. Thammachot Sueksalai School, about 1,000 metres from the site, evacuated around 2,000 students.
Officials said the leaking valve had since been shut and sealed, and the situation had returned to normal.
Factory may face suspension order if violations found
Varawut said the cause of the incident was still under investigation. If wrongdoing related to factory operations is found, the Suphan Buri Provincial Industry Office will consider ordering the factory to suspend operations under Section 39, paragraph one, of the Factory Act.
He said he had instructed the Department of Industrial Works and the Suphan Buri Provincial Industry Office to monitor the case closely and enforce the law strictly if any violations are found.
Safety checks ordered at 28 ice factories
The minister also ordered officials to urgently inspect the safety of other ice factories in Suphan Buri, where around 28 such facilities are operating.
He said factories must be alerted to increase caution, strengthen monitoring and inspect equipment used in ice production to ensure compliance with safety standards.
The checks are intended to prevent a repeat of the ammonia leak and improve safety at ice factories across the province. - The Nation/ANN
