One Dead, 27 Injured From Bangkok Factory Explosion

Heavy plumes of black smoke could be seen rising up to the sky from the city's downtown 35 kilometres (21 miles) away, as rescuers continued to evacuate residents near the site.

An explosion near Thai capital Bangkok's international airport Monday left a plastic's factory in flames, killing at least one firefighter and wounding 27 people, officials said. Heavy plumes of black smoke could be seen rising up to the sky from  the city's downtown 35 kilometres (21 miles) away, as rescuers continued to evacuate residents near the site. The blast occurred around 3 am at Taiwan-based Ming Dih Chemical Co., located on the outskirts of Bangkok near Suvarnabhumi airport. "We have 27 injured, mostly from cuts, and one dead who was a firefighter," said Somsak Kaewsena, the chief of Bang Pli district where the factory is located.