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 Thai Oil Refinery Story Summary

 
On December 2, 1999, a fire started at the Thai Oil refinery near Bangkok. The fire spread from one tank to 4 others before it was contained and eventually put out. The fire caused seven fatalities, 13 other serious  injuries requiring hospitalization, destroyed 150,000 barrels of gasoline, caused $22.3 million in damages, and shut down the plant for an extended period. Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes.

On December 27, a worker,  Charnarong Theplak, was arrested and charged with negligence in the incident. According to police, Charnarong,  who was working at the oil tank control room at the refinery on the night of the blast, had left a valve on one tank wide open when it was being filled. Oil that overflowed from the tank was ignited by a car engine started by staff members who tried to leave the area when they noticed the overflow.