Chonburi, Thailand
Heavy overnight rain triggered the collapse of a perimeter wall at a residential village in the Sri Racha district on the morning of July 4, 2026, sending a massive surge of foam waste from an adjacent garbage sorting site into homes and causing widespread disruption for residents.
The incident occurred at the Boon Raksa View 2 housing project in Moo 7, Bo Win subdistrict. According to local officials, the force of accumulated rainwater dislodged a huge mass of foam insulation, discarded from old refrigerators and freezers, that had been stockpiled at a neighboring waste sorting operation. The debris flowed through the breached wall, spreading across the village and inundating multiple properties.
Officials from the Bo Win Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO), along with other relevant agencies, quickly mobilized to the site. They began clearing the foam debris, opening drainage channels to remove floodwater, and assessing damage to affected households in an effort to ease residents’ hardship.
Mr. Athit Inprasit, president of Boon Raksa View 2 village, described the scene and its cause. “The land behind the village is privately owned and has been divided into rental plots,” he said. “Foreign operators leased the area long-term to sort discarded refrigerators and freezers. After extracting valuable components, they left enormous piles of foam waste on the site.”
He added that while the village has experienced flooding during heavy rains in the past, this event was far more severe. “The massive accumulation of foam absorbed water and created enormous pressure when it was swept along by the current, slamming into and demolishing a long section of the rear wall,” Athit explained. At least one house suffered direct structural damage, while many households were affected by the influx of water and foam debris.
Residents have expressed anger over the incident and are calling on government authorities to take decisive action. They urged officials to investigate the waste sorting operation, verify whether it complies with legal requirements for waste storage and disposal, and determine liability for the damages.
Local authorities have pledged to conduct a full survey of the affected homes and to develop preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future, ensuring greater safety for the community.
