Gas Plant Explosion In Surat Thain

[george]

Seven injured in gas plant explosion in South

SURAT THANI: -- A gas containing plant in Thailand's southern province of Surat Thani set ablaze and exploded Saturday evening, seriously injuring seven people, including the factory's owner.

Doctors said that all the seven injured, the rest six are the factory's workers aged between 16-43, were still in critical conditions with severe burns in most parts of their bodies.

They are now still under a close care of doctors, according to the director of Surat Thani Hospital, Dr. Phitsanu Maneechoti, where the injured have been hospitalized.

Local police rushing to investigate the scene initially said the incident was likely to have caused by a gas leak, which led to a fire and the explosion.

The official investigation is continuing, according to the police.

The gas plant. named Ban Piyagas, is located along the Asian Highway in Ban Na Derm District.

Surrounding areas in the plant's 300-m radius have been sealed off and declared 'off-limit' by the local authorities.

--TNA 2005-10-02