BANGKOK: A massive explosion at a factory on the outskirts of Bangkok early Monday killed at least one person and injured as many as 20 including the hospital where casualties were initially treated, over fears of poisonous fumes from burning chemicals and the possibility of additional denotations.

The heavy explosion occurred at around 3 a.m. in the plastic foam producing factory in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan and caused a massive fire, as per reports. It is suspected that the blast might have been triggered by some 20 tonnes of chemical substances stored in the plant. The blast could be heard for kilometers and surveillance footage from a nearby house captured the bright flash and boom, followed by the damage to the home and the one next door from the shockwaves.

Firefighters used helicopters to dump water on hard-to-access areas in the large complex. By mid-morning the main blaze at the Ming Dih Chemical factory had been brought under control, but a massive tank containing the chemical styrene monomer continued to burn, said local disaster prevention official Chailit Suwannakitpong. The fire has largely been contained, but officials have yet to investigate the cause of the explosion, as well as damages.

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