An explosion occurred about 03.00 am on 5 July 2021 at the Ming Dih Chemical factory, a factory producing plastic foam and plastic pellets, in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, the outskirts of Thailand's capital.

It was followed by a massive fire that engulfed the entire factory and caused extensive damage to buildings and houses within a one-kilometer radius.
The explosion was felt as far as five kilometers from the factory site and a large cloud of black smoke could be seen from Bangkok.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department and Bang Phli district office ordered the urgent evacuation of all people within a five-kilometer radius.

IMAGE: The Ming Dih factory in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan after a blast followed by an inferno on Monday. (Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool)