LOPBURI, 13 February 2014 The fire that burned through a government-operated rice warehouse in Lopburi was an accident and not an attempt to destroy evidence of corruption, according to the director of the Public Warehouses Organization (PWO) and the provincial governor of Lopburi.
An area used for storage of broken rice in the warehouse in Chai Badan District in Lopburi was damaged by the fire, according to provincial governor Thanakhom Chongchira. However, the fire was not caused by arson, as the spot of the flames was only used to keep broken rice.
PWO director Chanutpakon Wongsinin asserted the fire was an accident that only caused minor damage to the articles kept in the warehouse. He said the owner of the warehouse will take responsibility for the damage, and the warehouse also had insurance.
Mr. Chanutpakon added he has told PWO officials to carefully provide oversight for rice warehouses throughout the country to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
