Officials inspected the factory, operated by Happy Crystal Co Ltd, on Saturday (Sept 19) after locals filed complaints that the waterway behind Rawai temple (Wat Sawangarom) was contaminated.
“Local residents said the water smelled like ammonia, so Chalong Police and Rawai health officials inspected the site on Saturday (Sept 19),” Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos said this morning (Sept 21).
“Dead fish found in the waterway were collected for experts to examine and determine the type of chemical that killed them.
“The factory was temporarily shut down on Sunday (Sept 20) so the source of the chemical leakage could be identified and fixed.”
The leak was tracked down to a single ice-making machine, Mayor Aroon added.
“No other leakages were found,” he said, adding that all ice on site made by the defective machine was discarded.
“The factory is up and running, but that one ice machine has been completely shut down for repairs,” Mayor Aroon added.
“We will inspect the factory on Thursday (Sept 24) to make sure no chemicals of any kind are being released into the air or nearby water sources,” he said.