Fire Sparks Arson Concerns at Rayong Chemical Warehouse

[Georgealbert]

11 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

It is being reported, in Thai media, that the transportation of chemical waste was halted on the second day, after resistance by local villagers, who blocked the vehicles. 

 

On day one, it is reported that 201 tons, of aluminium dross, were transported for disposal at a factory in Chonburi province. On the 19 May 9 trucks arrived  to transport an additional 100 tons, to Mittlecom Co., Ltd. factory, Phanat Nikhom District, Chonburi, but local residents were refusing to allow it to be delivered and  as a result, the transport of aluminium dross, from warehouse 3, has stopped.

The Chonburi Governor is trying to explain to the locals, and clarify the situation.

 

Seems that the locals protesting outside the Chonburi factory have successfully prevented the delivery of the second load of aluminium dross waste and it has now been returned to the original Win Process fire site, to be meet by another smaller protest, but that failed to stop the trucks entering. Rayong Provincial Officials are reviewing plans of how to remove and dispose of all the chemical waste at this site.

 

https://fb.watch/sbwMIYOnDh/?

[Georgealbert]

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Seems that the locals protesting outside the Chonburi factory have successfully prevented the delivery of the second load of aluminium dross waste and it has now been returned to the original Win Process fire site, to be meet by another smaller protest, but that failed to stop the trucks entering. Rayong Provincial Officials are reviewing plans of how to remove and dispose of all the chemical waste at this site.

 

https://fb.watch/sbwMIYOnDh/?

Rayong media is reporting;

 

“Last night at 20.50, Mr. Chutipong Phiphobphinyo, Rayong MP, and Mr. Amnat Omsiri, secretary to the president of Bangbut Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, arrived at the factory, as the trucks were returning the aluminium dross.

 

Local residents protesting outside the factory clashed with Mr. Chutipong, accusing him of allowing the truck to return the chemical waste back to the factory. Mr. Chutipong tried to tell the villagers that he was not involved in the trucks returning and only just arrived to speak to them.

 

Both side argued and shouted loudly at each other until a fight almost occurred, until the chaos cooled down.
 

Today there will be a discussion with the relevant government agencies to try to resolve the removal of the waste.”

 

Video from Thai Examiner facebook.

 

https://fb.watch/sc3wyd1o1r/?

 

Edited May 21 by Georgealbert

[Georgealbert]

On May 21, it is reported that, Mr. Chulaphong. Thaweesri, Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, and Mr. Traiphop Wongtrairat, Governor of Rayong Province, held a meeting with relevant agencies, to try to find a solution for disposal of the aluminum dross waste, after being rejected because of protests at the Chonburi factory.
 

The waste will now be stored in large bags on site, to prevent it getting wet and to reduce the smell effecting villagers, as at this time, they cannot find a contractor to deal with the disposal and may have to wait until the 4.6 million baht is received from the court, to appoint one..

Mr. Traiphop revealed that the problem It has been piling up for so long that villagers have lost confidence in the government sector, and hoped to expedite solving the problem, to help improve public relations with the people in the area 

 

 

Edited May 23 by Georgealbert

[Georgealbert]

Media report from Rayong, on the 29 May,

 

“The owner/director of Win Process, was detained for questioning at Map Ta Phut Police Station after trying to escape from hiding at Ek Uthai Company, Phetchabun Province, as another police team were searching that factory. Police also found files and paperwork linking Ek Uthai Co., Ltd. and Win Process. 

Previously, the Department of Industrial Works had filed charges against the owner, in both Rayong Province and Phachi District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. A warrant for possession of dangerous substances has been issued. and there were complaints about the disposal of chemical waste.”

 

https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/340492

Edited May 29 by Georgealbert

[Georgealbert]

22 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Media report from Rayong, on the 29 May,

 

“The owner/director of Win Process, was detained for questioning at Map Ta Phut Police Station after trying to escape from hiding at Ek Uthai Company, Phetchabun Province, as another police team were searching that factory. Police also found files and paperwork linking Ek Uthai Co., Ltd. and Win Process. 

Previously, the Department of Industrial Works had filed charges against the owner, in both Rayong Province and Phachi District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. A warrant for possession of dangerous substances has been issued. and there were complaints about the disposal of chemical waste.”

 

https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/340492

Update report in Thai media.

 

“Police Col. Panya Damlek, superintendent of Map Ta Phut Police Station, revealed that this arrest is not related to the fire incident at the Win Process factory at Bang But Subdistrict, Ban Khai District. It was an arrest warrant issued by Map Ta Phut Police Station on charges of possession of dangerous substances. and a charge of violating an official order regarding such possession.

In the case of this fire incident, it is being dealt with by Ban Khai Police Station, and currently the investigation officers from Ban Khai Police Station have not yet coordinated or reported any charges against the owner.

 

However, officers from Phachi Police Station in Ayutthaya, have coordinated and will request his arrest for prosecution, on charges relating to the two factory fire in Ayutthaya.”

[Georgealbert]

Ban Khai Police Station, yesterday issued an arrest warrant for the owner, in order to start prosecution proceedings on charges of possessing dangerous substances within the Win Process Company, Ban Khai District, which was destroyed by the fire. They are also preparing to file additional criminal charges, namely illegally releasing chemical-contaminated waste into public water sources. This case carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

 

The police at Ban Khai Police Station then arrested the owner and took him in for interrogation, for approximately 45 minutes before he was taken into a custody cell. On 2 June 2024 at approximately 10:00, Ban Khai police officers will bring take the owner to appear before the Rayong Provincial Court.

 

 

 

[Georgealbert]

June 2, reporters reported that Police Lieutenant Colonel Witthaya Kulbun, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation), Ban Khai Police Station, brought the owner/director of the Winprocess factory to Rayong Court for a custody hearing, accused of possessing dangerous substances.
 

A request was made for bail which was denied, and the owner was sent to be held at Rayong Central Prison.
 

He had initially , been arrested by police at Phachi Police Station on charges of forgery of documents on May 29th, and was released on 20000 baht bail there, before being transferred to Ban Khai Police Station.

 

 

[Georgealbert]

June 3, local officials and investigators used a excavator and found chemical waste which had been illegally buried in landfills at the factory site,

 

Several test holes were dug and all were found to contain many types of industrial waste that had been dumped and also the holes, released a strong pungent odour. This waste is believed to be causing chemically contaminated water to flow into the water systems around the site.

 

Edited June 3 by Georgealbert

[Georgealbert]

Thai media reported.
 

“June 7 at 6:00 Pol. Maj. Gen. Theerachai Chamnanmo, Commander of the 2nd Regional Office of the Provincial Police, along with Pol. Col. Warawut Charoenchan. Deputy Commander of the Provincial Health Office 2, Pol. Col. Apichanan Wattanawarangkun, Superintendent of the Provincial Health Office, Rayong Province, Pol. Col. Sarawut Nuch Narath, Superintendent of Ban Khai Police Station, the investigative staff of the 2nd Special Operations Command, Burapha Special Operations Group 491, Rayong Provincial Investigation Team. and the Ban Khai Police Investigation Team, consisting of over 100 officers, served a search warrant at the Rayong Provincial Court, to search residences and warehouses, related to Mr. Opas Bunchan, 66 years old Director/Owner of Winprocess, who is currently detained in Rayong prison. He is accused of possession of dangerous substances and forgery of documents and is suspected to have used fire bombs to start the recents fire, to destroy evidence.

 

The officers spread out into 3 teams: the first team searched a house in Village No. 5, Noen Phra Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong Province, where the investigation revealed that Mr. Opas had come to live. The second  team searched a house in Rat Uthit Road, Choeng Noen Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong Province, where the owner was his son The 3rd team proceeded to search. J.L.P. Lumber Trading Limited Partnership, Village No. 5, Thap Ma Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong Province, after the investigative team found information that it was a warehouse belonging to a close friend.”

 

Edited June 7 by Georgealbert

[Georgealbert]

Statement by EARTH (Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand)

“June 11, marks the 50th day since the fire broke out at the Win Process Co., Ltd. factory. This recycling plant had ceased operations in 2020 but left behind an enormous amount of waste, including hazardous and non-hazardous toxic waste. Despite the blaze that consumed the factory, significant portions of the waste remain unburned and pose a continuing threat.

 

To commemorate this 50-day mark, EARTH produced a documentary that details the history of the factory and the severe environmental damage it has caused. To date, tons of hazardous and toxic waste, both from the remnants of the fire and those that escaped the flames, remain on-site, causing distress and suffering to the local community. It also stands as a stark challenge to all involved parties, particularly the national authorities, on their ability to resolve this crisis.“

 

https://fb.watch/sDZ9rJa9bj/?

 

Video is in Thai, but the coverage shows what a disaster this site is.

Edited June 11 by Georgealbert

[Georgealbert]

This video, taken on the 30 June, after heavy rain, shows the rain water run off mixing with the remaining chemical waste. There is no ongoing testing, so it is unclear if this water is contaminated or not, and if it is causing further environmental damage, to the land and.waterways around the factory. (Commentary is in Thai)
 

https://fb.watch/t21sMpTGyq/?