Narinjara News, 20 January 2022

At least seven Burmese workers died and two injured as an oil tanker exploded at a shipyard on the bank ofMankhlaong river in Samut Sakhon districtof Thailand.

The embassy of Myanmar in Bangkok has extended support with Thai Baht 5,000 per victim family. Moreover it is working for legalcompensations to the bereaved familiesin accordance with the workers' rights.

U Thu Rain Tun, a labour official in the embassy said that efforts are being made for arranging proper burialsto the victims. Moreover, they areinitiating for due compensation to the families as they all lost their lives in work places.

“Myanmar ambassador U Than Htwe himself has taken personal interest in supporting the victim families withfive thousand Baht each. Moreover,the compensation from the company is also taken care of while dealing with the relevant Thai labour offices,” said the official.

Thu Rain Tun also added that the Thai labour ministry wouldarrange their due financialcompensation as soon as possible.

Mentionable is that around 30 shipyard workers were on duty in an oil tanker named ‘Smoosh Sea C22’ in themorning hours of 17 January, when thefire caught the ship as the workers tried to weld the oil carrying pipes.

The sailors on board revealed that all those who died were shipyard workers. The Burmese diplomat Than Htweassured that he would coordinatewith the Thai employers for a proper compensation. He also added that the injured Burmese workerswere recovering at a local hospital.