Residents protest at slow compensation on Sunday

The Nation 02 July 2012

Residents near Thailand's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate on Sunday submitted a letter of complaint to Rayong's governor calling for the speeding up of compensation payments following the explosion at a petrochemical factory in May.

Rayong deputy governor Warawut Pin-ngern received the letter as some 100 local residents of Map Ta Phut municipality gathered at the provincial government complex in the eastern province.

The residents urged that a change be made to the committee in charge of considering compensation payments to those affected by the explosion at a unit of Bangkok Synthetics Co (BST) as they have not yet received any compensation since the accident on May 5.

The deputy governor said he would forward the letter to the governor to find ways to help them.

The crowd then dispersed as they were satisfied with the deputy governor's response.

Twelve people were killed in the BST explosion on May 5 while residents living around the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate were ordered to evacuate to safer areas, as a chemical leak from the plant was confirmed.