(Bangkok, 18th) A factory wall collapse in Eastern Thailand involved substandard steel rebars, similar to those used in the Bangkok Audit Office building that collapsed on March 28 due to an earthquake. Both were produced by the Chinese company Xinkeyuan.
According to the ‘Bangkok Post’, the extended wall on the second floor of a factory in Chonburi Province collapsed around 11 AM on Friday (May 16th), injuring a female employee who was taken to the hospital, and damaging seven vehicles parked nearby. This factory, which produces mobile phone cases, tablet covers, keychains, and leather products, has been in operation for two to three years.
Thailand's Minister of Industry, Akana, who inspected the factory accident site on the same day, posted on Facebook that the collapsed wall used 20mm deformed rebars and 9mm round rebars, both marked with 'SKY', indicating that the steel was produced by Xinkeyuan Steel Company. Akana stated that he has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the factory’s collapse and the construction materials used.
Xinkeyuan Steel Company was registered in 2011, with 80% of the company’s shares held by nine Chinese individuals. During the Myanmar earthquake in March, the only Thai building affected and under construction, the National Audit Office building, used approximately 10% out-of-spec steel rebars, similarly produced by Xinkeyuan Steel Company. Xinkeyuan's factory in Rayong Province was closed by authorities last December due to safety violations. Xinkeyuan is currently under investigation for its potential involvement in the Audit Office building collapse.
According to the ‘Bangkok Post’, the extended wall on the second floor of a factory in Chonburi Province collapsed around 11 AM on Friday (May 16th), injuring a female employee who was taken to the hospital, and damaging seven vehicles parked nearby. This factory, which produces mobile phone cases, tablet covers, keychains, and leather products, has been in operation for two to three years.
Thailand's Minister of Industry, Akana, who inspected the factory accident site on the same day, posted on Facebook that the collapsed wall used 20mm deformed rebars and 9mm round rebars, both marked with 'SKY', indicating that the steel was produced by Xinkeyuan Steel Company. Akana stated that he has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the factory’s collapse and the construction materials used.
Xinkeyuan Steel Company was registered in 2011, with 80% of the company’s shares held by nine Chinese individuals. During the Myanmar earthquake in March, the only Thai building affected and under construction, the National Audit Office building, used approximately 10% out-of-spec steel rebars, similarly produced by Xinkeyuan Steel Company. Xinkeyuan's factory in Rayong Province was closed by authorities last December due to safety violations. Xinkeyuan is currently under investigation for its potential involvement in the Audit Office building collapse.