Fire rages, mass evacuation after Thai factory blast

Emergency personnel looks on as smoke rises from a plastic factory after an explosion in Samut Prakan, outside Bangkok, Thailand July 5, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of people on the outskirts of Thailand's capital were being evacuated on Monday as firefighters battled blazes for hours after a factory explosion that killed a rescue worker and wounded 29 people, officials said.

Disaster authorities said 70 houses were damaged and fires were still being fought 15 hours after the explosion in Samut Prakan province in the early hours of Monday.