Thailand Roundup: Gas storage tank fire, cannabis criminalisation, Jurassic World
Gas storage tank fire kills one, forces evacuation of 200
A gas storage tank fire at an industrial park in Rayong province, eastern Thailand has resulted in one fatality and the evacuation of 200 people, according to Thai officials. The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) said in a statement that four persons were injured in the fire, and one of them later passed away in the hospital from their wounds. The chief of the disaster prevention and mitigation office in Rayong province, Attaya Attaya Nual-Uthai, stated that "about 200 people had been evacuated from the area." The cause of the fire is unknown and rescue efforts are underway to extinguish the blaze.
Record high heat
Thailand was affected by a record-breaking heatwave in April and early May. In April, record highs were reached in 30 districts across Thailand's 77 provinces with 26 provinces having temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat poses serious health risks to children and limits their outdoor activities and access to basic services. In 2020 alone, more than 75% of children in the Southeast Asian nation, roughly 10.3 million were impacted by high heat factors.
Jurassic World 4 to film in Thailand
Thailand has been revealed as one of the filming locations for the fourth instalment of the Hollywood film franchise Jurassic World, according to reports. The United Kingdom and Malta were also mentioned as locations for the film. Production is scheduled to kick off on June 17 and continue through October 18.
Criminalisation of cannabis
Thailand's government has reversed its decision to decriminalise cannabis, with the Prime Minister announcing that it will be reclassified as a narcotic by the end of the year. “I want the Health Ministry to amend the rules and relist cannabis as a narcotic. The ministry should quickly issue a rule to allow its usage for health and medical purposes only,” Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on social media. This comes just two years after the country became one of the first in Asia to decriminalise recreational usage.
Island closed after coral bleaching
Thailand closed an island due to extensive coral bleaching caused by rising ocean temperatures. The closure comes after a deadly heatwave across Asia. The Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) said the Pling Island and the coral reefs around Sirinart National Park in Phuket, a province in southern Thailand would be temporarily closed due to extensive coral bleaching caused by rising seawater temperatures. The officials also disclosed that other national parks are being monitored.
