LPG truck collision sparks explosion fear
Firemen spent more than one hour in their frantic efforts to avert a feared explosion of highlyinflammable gas leaking from a tanker truck that collided with a trailer truck on the inbound Bang NaTrat Highway less than half a kilometre from The Nation's head office late last night.
Police had to block an inbound section of the highway and turned back vehicles while the salvation of the damaged truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was going on. Traffic backed up for several kilometres along the highway but no immediate evacuation of nearby buildings were ordered by authorities concerned as news about the accident was spread through TV and radio stations.
The accident triggered fear of a possible tragedy similar to a 1990 incident in which an LPG truck crashed into a building on Phetchaburi Road in central Bangkok. The resultant explosion killed more than 100 people and injured many others caught in traffic jams and trapped in burning buildings around the scene.
The collision last night took place at about 10.00 pm beneath the bridge near Wat Sriiam crossing the highway. No injuries were reported.
Fire engines trained water on the leaking LPG truck to prevent a possible explosion while police and rescue workers raced to block vehicles and onlookers at a safe distance.
An emergency team from PTT Plc, which distributes the LPG, was called to the scene to help with the operation. They managed to contain the gas leak at about 11.30 pm.
Last night authorities ordered vehicles on the inbound lanes to turn back and temporarily use other routes. Inbound traffic on the highway was back to normal about an hour later.
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