BANGKOK, Thailand – Local authorities have launched an investigation into why visitors were allowed near an open wastewater treatment pond at Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) premises in Bang Na district, Thailand.
The Bangkok Post reported that five people died on Friday, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down the poultry-processing plant.
Mongko Pruekwatanna, director general of the Industrial Works Department, told the press: “In principle, the pond should be covered at all times, but when officials reached it, the lid was at the bottom of the pond.”
The incident was reported to have happened when students were given a tour of the plant through a “personal connection”, although the official showing them around had only worked there for six months.
Meanwhile broadcaster Thai PBS reported that the Department of Industrial Work (DIW) ordered CPF to cease its wastewater treatment system for 30 days “until it as improved its system to have more safe an efficiency”.
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