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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002889

Medics urgently need mRNA jabs, say doctors

The “Mor Mai Thon” (Doctors Won’t Tolerate) group is demanding that the government procure mRNA vaccines for frontline medics after the leaked minutes of a meeting about the distribution of donated Pfizer vaccines created an uproar on social media on Sunday.

The minutes quoted a senior official advising the government to not give the Pfizer vaccine to medics, saying: “It will imply that the quality of the Sinovac vaccine given to them earlier is low, and it will be difficult for us to find a reasonable excuse.”

In response to this, the group has demanded that the government procure mRNA vaccines as soon as possible for the public and frontline medics, especially in the face of soaring infections from the Delta variant.

The leaked document said the 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine donated by the US will arrive in Thailand this month and will be administered to seniors and women over 12 weeks pregnant who live in Covid-19 red zones.

The group has urged the government to release the purchasing contract for AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines to prove the jabs were not bought because it was financially beneficial. The government is also being pushed to publicize all meetings held on vaccine management in Thailand.

The group is also demanding that medics be provided with FFP3 and N99 facemasks to protect themselves from the new variants of Covid-19.

In a message posted on the “We, The People” Facebook page on Monday, the group called on medical personnel and general people to wear black or at least a black ribbon on Wednesday to commemorate those who have been affected or have died from Covid-19.

Last week, immunologist Dr Prapaporn Pisitkun said on Facebook that she caught the virus from a Covid-19 patient despite having received both jabs of the China-made Sinovac vaccine.

She said she had checked her neutralizing antibodies (NAb) to monitor her immune response after the inoculation. Two weeks after the second dose, her NAb was high at 92.9 per cent, but dropped to 65.7 per cent two months later.

Prapaporn said that though her immunity is not low, it is not high enough to protect her from the Delta variant.

Published : July 06, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002888

Samut Prakan fire evacuees finally head home

Residents who took shelter in Bangkok’s Bung Nong Bon sports centre after being evacuated from Samut Prakan early on Monday were allowed to return home on Tuesday after the chemical fire in Bang Phli district was completely put out.

Ahuge blast at around 2.50am on Monday sparked a chemical inferno at the Ming Dih Chemical factory in Soi Kin Kaew 21. Chemicals stored in underground tanks reportedly caused small explosions intermittently throughout the day.

Some 100 people living in the area were evacuated and given shelter at the Nong Bon sports centre at the order of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

After 26 hours of battling the blaze, firefighters eventually managed to shut off all valves of the tanks to ensure no more flames are fanned.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that at least 70 houses and 15 vehicles were damaged in the explosion. The blaze also killed one 18-year-old firefighting volunteer and injured 60 others.

Samut Prakan fire evacuees finally head homeSamut Prakan fire evacuees finally head home

Published : July 06, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002887

Dousing every last spark

A helicopter from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation sprays the premises of Ming Dih Chemical factory in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district with firefighting foam on Tuesday to ensure every last smouldering ember of the chemical inferno is extinguished.

Dousing every last sparkDousing every last sparkDousing every last sparkDousing every last spark

Dousing every last sparkDousing every last spark

Dousing every last spark

Published : July 06, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002885

Increasing number of Covid patients in Bangkok infected with Delta variant

Covid-19 infections with Delta variant in Bangkok are increasing rapidly, surpassing cases with the Alpha variant, the Department of Medical Sciences revealed on Monday.

Atotal of 487 cases of the Delta variant were detected in Bangkok from June 28 to July 2, accounting for 52 per cent of the province’s total cases during that period.

Meanwhile, 447 cases are of the Alpha variant (47.8 per cent) and two cases are of the Beta variant (0.2 per cent).

“The two Beta patients are from the same family who had travelled from Narathiwat,” said the department’s director-general, Dr Supakit Sirilak.

The Delta variant of Covid-19 was first detected in India, while Alpha was first discovered in UK and Beta in South Africa.

Outside Bangkok, 1,011 cases of the Alpha variant were reported from June 28 to July 2, accounting for 77.6 per cent of total cases, 234 were Delta variant cases (18 per cent) and 57 cases (4.4 per cent) were Beta variant.

“At the regional level, the Delta variant cases are surging while Alpha and Beta are gradually decreasing,” he said. “Most of the Beta variant cases are from southern provinces, especially Narathiwat.”

From April 1 (the start of the new Covid-19 wave) to July 2, Thailand has recorded 9,209 cases of the Alpha variant (81.98 per cent), 1,838 cases with Delta variant (16.36 per cent), and 186 cases with Beta variant (1.66 per cent).

Published : July 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002886

Taiwan mission to Thailand takes steps in response to Bang Phli chemical inferno

In a statement released via Facebook on Monday, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office thanked Thai authorities for working tirelessly to extinguish the inferno that erupted at the Ming Dih Chemical factory in Samut Prakan on Monday.

The blaze, which was sparked by a huge explosion at around 2.50am on Monday, killed an 19-year-old volunteer firefighter and injured 60 others.

“The office would like to express condolences to the family of the deceased firefighter and hope that the injured will recover as soon as possible. Currently, over 60 workers have been injured, two of whom are Taiwanese,” the statement said.

The office added that it has set up an emergency response team and is working with Thai agencies to manage the remaining chemicals in the factory and take steps to control the situation in nearby areas.

The factory, in Soi Kingkaew 21 in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district, is a Thai-Taiwanese joint venture and produces plastic foam and pellets. The premises are closed to outsiders to prevent further damage and the office said it has contacted the Taiwanese owner to account for the damages.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has reported that at least 70 houses and 15 vehicles were damaged in the explosion. Residents within a 5-kilometre radius of the factory were ordered to evacuate and stay away until the Pollution Control Department inspects the area and confirms safety.

Published : July 06, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002882

Strengthening dollar and Covid crisis drag baht down

The baht opened at 32.12 to the US dollar on Tuesday, weakening from Monday’s closing rate of 32.11.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 32.05 and 32.20 during the day, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

Poon said the baht was still pressured by the dollar and the Covid-19 situation in the world, especially in Thailand. Foreign investors have sold their assets in Thailand, as they are concerned about the virus crisis, he added.

Meanwhile, the price of gold has rebounded, becoming a factor in purchase of dollars and helping sustain the baht at around 32 to the US currency.

Published : July 06, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002881

Netizens mourn death of teen firefighting volunteer in Samut Prakan blast

Netizens have been mourning the death of Korasit Roaphan, a 19-year-old firefighting volunteer of Somdet Chaophraya Emergency Rescue Unit who helped fight the blaze in Samut Prakan province.

The explosion and fire occurred in a foam factory in Bang Phli district on Monday.

The blast occurred at around 2.50am on Monday at the Ming Dih Chemical Co factory in Soi King Kaew 21 in Rachathewa subdistrict.

Firefighters successfully controlled the flames on Tuesday morning after battling them for over 26 hours.

Korasit was reportedly the only fatality from this incident, while 20 people were injured, 70 houses and 15 vehicles were damaged.

Residents within a 5-kilometre radius of the factory were ordered to evacuate.

Korasit made his final Facebook post at 10.26am on Monday when he shared the news of the explosion from the Facebook page of Poh Teck Tung Foundation.

Thousands of netizens mourned his death. They thanked him for his service and expressed their condolences to his family.

A colleague of Korasit posted that he was a hardworking volunteer who had been on several rescue and firefighting missions. Another colleague said that Korasit was his hero and that his untimely death is the hardest to bear.

Published : July 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002880

Fire from Samut Prakan factory blast put out, but evacuees cannot return home yet

Firefighters on Tuesday morning managed to extinguish the blaze caused by a huge explosion at a foam factory in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province after a 26-hour battle.

The huge blast occurred at around 2.50am on Monday at the Ming Dih Chemical Co factory in Soi King Kaew 21 in Rachathewa subdistrict. Chemicals stored in the factory’s underground tanks reportedly caused small explosions intermittently throughout the night.

Firefighters successfully shut off all chemical valves to cut off the fuel supply fanning the flames. They continued spraying the area with water to reduce the temperature and prevent possible explosions.

Fire from Samut Prakan factory blast put out, but evacuees cannot return home yet

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that at least 70 houses and 15 vehicles were damaged in the explosion. One firefighting volunteer died and 20 people were injured.

Residents within a 5-kilometre radius of the factory were ordered to evacuate.

The department has told people living in tye affected areas to not return home yet until officials from the Pollution Control Department inspect the area and confirm about safety.

Fire from Samut Prakan factory blast put out, but evacuees cannot return home yet

Fire from Samut Prakan factory blast put out, but evacuees cannot return home yet

Published : July 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002872

Thundershowers forecast for all regions with isolated heavy rains in some areas

The southwest monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand is becoming stronger, while the monsoon trough lies across the upper North and Northeast into the active low-pressure cell over the South China Sea.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Hot day with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-28 degrees Celsius, highs of 34-39°C.

Northeast: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains and gusty winds; temperature lows of 25-27°C, highs of 32-35°C.

Central: Hot day with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 26-27°C, highs of 36-38°C.

East: Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains and gusty winds; temperature lows of 26-29°C, highs of 33-37°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-27°C, highs of 33-38°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 21-26°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 28-29°C, highs of 35-38°C.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : July 06, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002861

One dead in toxic Bang Phli inferno, THB700m damages

The inferno at Ming Din Chemicals, a Taiwanese-owned foam and plastic pellets factory in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli Yai area, had still not been completely put out as of 7pm on Monday.

The fire, which was sparked by an explosion at about 3am, has killed an 18-year-old rescuer who tripped and fell while fleeing the fire and injured close to 60 others. The damage, so far, has been estimated at 700 million baht.

Investigators have yet to determine what caused the explosion.

Residents in the 5-kilometre radius of the fire have been told to stay away from the site because of toxic smoke. More than 10 types of chemicals, including styrene monomer, a precursor chemical for foam, and polystyrene which produces styrene and benzene when exposed to high heat, are in the fumes. Benzene is a toxic substance and found to be carcinogenic, and exposure can dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness and palpitation. Long-term inhalation can lead to leukaemia.

The factory had earned a licence to set up operations in Soi Kin Kaew 21 in 1989, when there were no residences in the area. But since then, many housing estates have been built in the area.

Meanwhile, Prakob Vivitjinda, director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said a second tank in the factory contains 20,000 litres of chemicals, not 500,000 litres as previously reported.

Published : July 05, 2021

By : The Nation