Samut Prakan fire shifts focus on illegal disposal

[webfact]

LANDFILL
Fire shifts focus on illegal disposal
Thanapat Kitjakosol
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- DAYS OF SMOG from a burning landfill in Samut Prakan has shifted the spotlight on illegal disposal of garbage, especially toxic waste, in this area.

The situation is so bad that even the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has decided to step in and address the problem.

"We have been suffering for a long time now. People have lodged complaints many times before, but nobody has come to our help," fish farm owner Anek Numthong said.

He was speaking to reporters as thick smog from the Phraek Sa landfill continued spreading far and wide, forcing people living in Samut Prakan and neighbouring Bangkok to wear facemasks to protect themselves.

DSI official Puwich Yamaha said available evidence showed that a massive amount of industrial and toxic waste had been dumped in this landfill.

"We will look into this case and inspect other landfills in Samut Prakan and Bangkok," he said, adding that the agency aimed to tackle the problem at its root.

"It's necessary that all relevant authorities take action against illegal garbage disposal," Puwich said.

Samut Prakan is the location of a large number of industrial factories, but its garbage-disposal facilities were nowhere close to standard. "If relevant authorities don't address this problem, the DSI will take action against them for dereliction of duty," he said.

Meanwhile, Samut Prakan Gover-nor Kanit Ieamrahong said he had already assigned a tambon administrative organisation to sue those involved in the Phraek Sa landfill. "In fact, this landfill was supposed to be closed," he said.

Napaporn Nguanjorn, a local village head, said a vast area in her neighbourhood was turned into the landfill about a decade ago. "But it was closed after a fire broke out three or four years go," she said.

However, she said she kept receiving complaints from local people that someone continued dumping garbage in the site. "I reported the problem to the relevant tambon administrative organisation but it dragged on," she said.

On Sunday, a fire broke out at the garbage dump again, except this time the problem caught media attention as the billowing thick smoke began posing serious health threats. Thousands of people have already been evacuated from the area near the landfill.

"I hope relevant authorities will settle this problem once and for all," Napaporn said.

Puttipong Soijumpa, the kamnan of Tambon Phraek Sa where the landfill is located, believed a law-enforcement agency should step in.

"Otherwise, problems like this will keep recurring," he said.

Im Paemor, chairman of the Tambon Phraek Sa Administrative Organisa-tion, said his agency had already lodged a complaint against Kromapol Samutsakhon, who has been identified as the operator of the landfill.

"We welcome an investigation by the DSI," he said.


-- The Nation 2014-03-20

[Yunla]

The birds nesting in the tree outside my flat, who are currently feeding their chicks, are a 'canary in a coalmine' testament to the toxicity of this smog. When there are piled-up household binbags fires within a hundred yards of the tree, the stinking smoke does not disturb these birds and they continue singing and flying normally. But in the last four days, despite this area being quite a long way from this toxic blaze, the birds have been lethargic and instead of singing they are making a panicked keening sound, along with constantly picking at their feathers to remove the clinging pollutants. This tells me that the OP is correct in stating that this smoke is from burning toxic industrial waste, and far more serious than normal binbag-fires.

The smoke this week was dense and made me suffocate and feel dizzy, when I went to the shops, so I can only imagine the effect it has on these beautiful birds. It is shameful that we inflict this kind of event on species who can not just reach for a handy face-mask like we can, and are forced to suffer the full effect. Carelessness is not an excuse, it is a major failing in itself, and these dumps need to be made safe for the good of humans and for the other species we are greatly honoured to share this planet with.

[retell]

Good but hope they dont forget to sue the companys the rubbish came from,

Are there nornal ways for industry to get rid of their toxic waste ?

[NongKhaiKid]

Good but hope they dont forget to sue the companys the rubbish came from,

Are there nornal ways for industry to get rid of their toxic waste ?

As usual the problem will be who owns or is linked to the companies involved.

[retell]

Good but hope they dont forget to sue the companys the rubbish came from,

Are there nornal ways for industry to get rid of their toxic waste ?

[tomross46]

Good but hope they dont forget to sue the companys the rubbish came from,

Are there nornal ways for industry to get rid of their toxic waste ?

Also who are the politicians and or influential people involved? Why, after people complained to the police was nothing done?

[Skytrain2hell]

The smoke cloud is just one kilometer from my house, and you can smell it at my doorstep if the wind is blowing in that direction. Once I learned the severity of the situation, it was a bit late (Tuesday). However, I immediately closed up the house and moved my family 30 kilometers away. I'm amazed that very few people, foreigners included, have done the same.

There is a huge toxic cloud of smoke outside of our houses, yet people are walking around like nothing has changed. It really baffles me. It's no wonder why cancer is by far the leading cause of death here in Thailand.

[oops]

I had to leave the area we were in because I got up out of my chair and I was so disoriented that I had to use the wall to catch my balance.

I had a headache and stomach ache, my child also had a stomach. I didn't know who to call so I called my embassy asking them who to call and if they were evacuating area's around Samut Prakon.

This is just totally ridiculous. They again fail to go after the company that knew better then to take their waste there but they did anyway. They most likely set fire to the dump to hide evidence of what was being dumped there.

These idiots at the dump don't have any brains that's why they are there. The owners of all these Thai company's need to bare the burden of responsibilities or we will end up like China..

Yes I know, my complaint lands on deaf ears.....as usual.

[seajae]

welcome to corruption, why should any of the head honcho's do anything when they have lots of brown envelopes to make them look the other way, A few deaths among the poor will mean nothing to them as long as they are getting paid for it. We can only hope that there will \bve charges laid and followed through with this, those in charge of the departments responsible, the owners of the factories that dumped and those that organized it. You can bet that only the small fry will be chased though, those at the top will just pay to be left alone, tarit will also demand his share to look the other way as well, this will be a typical dsi investigation.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Usually, the term "landfill" is supposed to mean a regulated garbage disposal site, either operated directly by the local government or under contract with a private company.

But from the OP, I can't tell if that's the case with this site, or if this is just some random place like many in Thailand where people have decided to dump their accummulated wastes.

As is often the case, the OP news report makes no mention of who's operating this dump, public or private, although it mentions the governor talking about suing those involved.

Basically, Thailand is terrible at environmental regulation and protection. So you have raw sewage being dumped into the oceans, toxic wastes dumped into the ground, water treatment plants that don't operate to standard or are never completed due to corruption, and air pollution that goes unchecked. Because, no one is responsible, ever.

Ahh, and, little or no zoning or land use regulation effectively enforced, to ensure that industrial and polluting sites aren't located right next to or in the middle of residential areas.

Edited March 20, 2014 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[belg]

anybody with a google map link please?

[Skytrain2hell]

It's literally 20 rai or 8 acres of landfill that is burning. They expect it to burn for another couple of days, but who really knows? Even after it's burned out, it's probably still emitting gasses.

I don't really know. I don't know much about this except that carcinogens are bad. Cancer is bad, too. Sounds simple, right? We're fortunate enough that we have another place to stay.

[Old Man River]

Good but hope they dont forget to sue the companys the rubbish came from,

Are there nornal ways for industry to get rid of their toxic waste ?

As usual the problem will be who owns or is linked to the companies involved.

Isn't that as it should be?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Old Man River]

LANDFILL

Fire shifts focus on illegal disposal

Thanapat Kitjakosol

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- DAYS OF SMOG from a burning landfill in Samut Prakan has shifted the spotlight on illegal disposal of garbage, especially toxic waste, in this area.

The situation is so bad that even the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has decided to step in and address the problem.

"We have been suffering for a long time now. People have lodged complaints many times before, but nobody has come to our help," fish farm owner Anek Numthong said.

He was speaking to reporters as thick smog from the Phraek Sa landfill continued spreading far and wide, forcing people living in Samut Prakan and neighbouring Bangkok to wear facemasks to protect themselves.

DSI official Puwich Yamaha said available evidence showed that a massive amount of industrial and toxic waste had been dumped in this landfill.

"We will look into this case and inspect other landfills in Samut Prakan and Bangkok," he said, adding that the agency aimed to tackle the problem at its root.

"It's necessary that all relevant authorities take action against illegal garbage disposal," Puwich said.

Samut Prakan is the location of a large number of industrial factories, but its garbage-disposal facilities were nowhere close to standard. "If relevant authorities don't address this problem, the DSI will take action against them for dereliction of duty," he said.

Meanwhile, Samut Prakan Gover-nor Kanit Ieamrahong said he had already assigned a tambon administrative organisation to sue those involved in the Phraek Sa landfill. "In fact, this landfill was supposed to be closed," he said.

Napaporn Nguanjorn, a local village head, said a vast area in her neighbourhood was turned into the landfill about a decade ago. "But it was closed after a fire broke out three or four years go," she said.

However, she said she kept receiving complaints from local people that someone continued dumping garbage in the site. "I reported the problem to the relevant tambon administrative organisation but it dragged on," she said.

On Sunday, a fire broke out at the garbage dump again, except this time the problem caught media attention as the billowing thick smoke began posing serious health threats. Thousands of people have already been evacuated from the area near the landfill.

"I hope relevant authorities will settle this problem once and for all," Napaporn said.

Puttipong Soijumpa, the kamnan of Tambon Phraek Sa where the landfill is located, believed a law-enforcement agency should step in.

"Otherwise, problems like this will keep recurring," he said.

Im Paemor, chairman of the Tambon Phraek Sa Administrative Organisa-tion, said his agency had already lodged a complaint against Kromapol Samutsakhon, who has been identified as the operator of the landfill.

"We welcome an investigation by the DSI," he said.

-- The Nation 2014-03-20

We don't live near where the map shows the smoke is blowing, but we have been choking for days. Best for tourists to go to other parts of Thailand until the authorities can get this under control.

I am happy to see Fire and Rescue people involved. Great people.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

anybody with a google map link please?

It looks to me, based on the map posted above, like these should be about the location: 13.555136, 100.644118

Edited March 20, 2014 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[bangon04]

Good but hope they dont forget to sue the companys the rubbish came from,

Are there nornal ways for industry to get rid of their toxic waste ?

Also who are the politicians and or influential people involved? Why, after people complained to the police was nothing done?

Couldn't find a foreigner to blame?? Maybe illegal Burmese?

[Credo]

The smoke cloud is just one kilometer from my house, and you can smell it at my doorstep if the wind is blowing in that direction. Once I learned the severity of the situation, it was a bit late (Tuesday). However, I immediately closed up the house and moved my family 30 kilometers away. I'm amazed that very few people, foreigners included, have done the same.

There is a huge toxic cloud of smoke outside of our houses, yet people are walking around like nothing has changed. It really baffles me. It's no wonder why cancer is by far the leading cause of death here in Thailand.

The leading cause of death in Thailand is heart disease, not cancer:

Estimated life expectancy in Thailand in 2005 was 68.5 years for males and 75.6 years for females, two years lower than vital registration data suggest. Upon correction, stroke is the leading cause of death in Thailand (10.7%), followed by ischemic heart disease (7.8%) and HIV/AIDS (7.4%). Other leading causes are road traffic accidents (males) and diabetes mellitus (females). In many cases, estimated mortality is at least twice what is estimated in vital registration. Leading causes of death have remained stable since 1999, with the exception of a large decline in HIV/AIDS mortality.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2885317/

Although this sort of thing may just raise the cancer deaths. I am a long, long way from the fire, but we had a couple of days when the wind was such that we were getting that acrid, throat-wretching strench as well. My thoughts are with anything, including the soi dogs, that are anywhere near it.

[Skytrain2hell]

The smoke cloud is just one kilometer from my house, and you can smell it at my doorstep if the wind is blowing in that direction. Once I learned the severity of the situation, it was a bit late (Tuesday). However, I immediately closed up the house and moved my family 30 kilometers away. I'm amazed that very few people, foreigners included, have done the same.

There is a huge toxic cloud of smoke outside of our houses, yet people are walking around like nothing has changed. It really baffles me. It's no wonder why cancer is by far the leading cause of death here in Thailand.

The leading cause of death in Thailand is heart disease, not cancer:

Estimated life expectancy in Thailand in 2005 was 68.5 years for males and 75.6 years for females, two years lower than vital registration data suggest. Upon correction, stroke is the leading cause of death in Thailand (10.7%), followed by ischemic heart disease (7.8%) and HIV/AIDS (7.4%). Other leading causes are road traffic accidents (males) and diabetes mellitus (females). In many cases, estimated mortality is at least twice what is estimated in vital registration. Leading causes of death have remained stable since 1999, with the exception of a large decline in HIV/AIDS mortality.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2885317/

Although this sort of thing may just raise the cancer deaths. I am a long, long way from the fire, but we had a couple of days when the wind was such that we were getting that acrid, throat-wretching strench as well. My thoughts are with anything, including the soi dogs, that are anywhere near it.

I've always heard that it's cancer, and did a quick Google search resulting in the Center for Disease Control saying that cancer is the leading cause of death in Thailand (19% cancer compared to 12% Ischemic Heart Disease).

1. Cancer 19%
2. Ischemic Heart Disease 12%
3. Stroke 10%
4. Lower Respiratory Infections 9%
5. HIV 4%

6. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 4%
7. Diabetes 4%
8. Road Injuries 4%
9. Chronic Kidney Disease 2%
10. Cirrhosis 2%

Secondly, the source you quoted was based on a 2005 study of about 20,000 deaths.

"A nationally representative sample of 11,984 deaths in 2005 was selected, and verbal autopsy interviews were conducted for almost 10,000 deaths. Verbal autopsy procedures were validated against 2,558 cases for which medical record review was possible."

Then again I just googled some more and pattaya daily news said it's heart disease, so I guess it depends on what site you look at, and how they interpret the numbers. For example, some might couple heart disease with strokes.

[bigbamboo]

Come to Chiang Mai. The air's lovely!

[Skytrain2hell]

Come to Chiang Mai. The air's lovely!

lol...do you work for TAT by any chance?

[bigbamboo]

Come to Chiang Mai. The air's lovely!

lol...do you work for TAT by any chance?

No, I work for the greater good of all mankind.