BANGKOK, Thailand – Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin has instructed the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to support Bangkok authorities in monitoring and managing an oil spill that entered a roadside drainage system on Chuea Phloeng Road in Khlong Toei District. PCD Director-General Surin Worakijthamrong has reported that officials were deployed on September 7, 2026, with monitoring equipment to assess fire and explosion risks at 10 drainage points over an 85-meter area.
Measurements showed total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reached up to 350 parts per million at some locations, indicating fire and explosion risks in affected drains. Officials were advised to exercise increased caution as the PCD coordinated response efforts with Khlong Toei District and other relevant Bangkok authorities.
The PCD stated that reducing flammable vapor concentrations was essential for operational safety. Foam applied to affected areas has lowered vapor concentrations in the drainage system to safe levels, allowing response operations to continue while risks were monitored during removal.
Shell Company of Thailand Limited has provided equipment to pump and remove residual oil from the drainage system for disposal at an authorized facility. The PCD director said the department will continue working with Bangkok authorities to monitor the situation, investigate the source and cause of the spill, and provide technical guidance to minimize risks to the public and the environment. (NNT)
