BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin has instructed the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to closely monitor a major chemical fire in Ban Pho District, Chachoengsao Province. The fire broke out at Cargo Chemical Co., Ltd., a facility that produces thinners, lacquers, and industrial paints and stores large amounts of volatile solvents.
The Regional Environmental and Pollution Control Office 13 (RECO13) reported that the fire started at about 4:30 p.m. on March 7, 2026. Initial data show that approximately 30,000 liters of thinner fueled the fire, producing a dense plume of hazardous black smoke. Winds are carrying the smoke toward Bang Pakong District. There are no immediate reports of casualties.
In response to the Deputy Prime Minister’s directive, RECO13 has advised provincial authorities and local agencies to immediately evacuate residents in downwind areas. Residents of Ban Pho, Bang Pakong, and nearby areas are urged to stay indoors with windows and doors sealed, use chemical-grade respirators if available, and avoid any contact with the smoke plume.
Firefighting operations are ongoing, but emergency responders face challenges due to the facility’s narrow and restricted layout. The PCD is conducting real-time air quality monitoring to assess levels of hazardous substances, including Toluene, Acetone, and Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), to ensure public safety as the situation develops. (NNT)
