Tanker explodes in Thailand, dock workers missing

Eight workers were missing and houses damaged after an empty oil tanker caught fire and exploded at a dockyard on the Mae Klong river in Muang district of Thailand on Tuesday morning, Report informs via the Bangkok Post.

The tanker, which has a capacity of 6,500 deadweight tonnes, was undergoing regular maintenance at Ruammitr Dockyard in tambon Laem Yai. Its tanks were empty.

The explosion was heard and felt over a radius of several kilometres. Glass window panes in houses were shattered. The Marine Department said about an hour later that the fire on the vessel had been brought under control. Eight dockyard workers were missing.