The paper factory in Muang district of Samut Sakhon province, which has been on fire since Saturday, and its surrounding areas have been declared a disaster zone by the provincial administration, to facilitate firefighting operations and provision of assistance to fire victims.

Chief of the provincial public disaster prevention and mitigation office, Santhiti Thammajai, said today that firefighters have succeeded in controlling 60% of the fire on about 4.8 hectares in Ban Koh sub-district, where the factory, producing corrugated and packing paper, is located. There were about 20,000 tonnes of paper at the factory when the fire started yesterday morning.

Firefighting operations are focused on where most paper is stored, the coal storage area and the boilers. Two fire trucks and two backhoes are deployed at each.

Santhiti said that the boilers have been identified as the most worrisome area, because coal is used as fuel. The situation has, however, eased after firemen were successful in closing off the conveyor system that carries coal to the boilers.

Firefighters are now working in two alternate shifts to extinguish the fire, which is expected to be brought fully under control tomorrow.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, as forensic officers wait for the fire to be extinguished before entering the plant to conduct their investigation.