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8 killed in chemical accident at Siam Commercial Bank HQ

Rescue workers carry victims after an accident, possibly caused by a fire retardant chemical according to the bank, at the headquarters of Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank in Bangkok yesterday. – Reuters pic, March 14, 2016.Rescue workers carry victims after an accident, possibly caused by a fire retardant chemical according to the bank, at the headquarters of Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank in Bangkok yesterday. – Reuters pic, March 14, 2016.An accident at the headquarters of Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank, possibly caused by a fire retardant chemical, has killed eight people, the bank said today.

The accident took place late yesterday as contractors were working on the building's fire fighting systems.

"Gas pyrogens intended to extinguish fires opened and kept oxygen out resulting in injuries and death," the bank said.

"Eight people died as a result and seven injured people are in hospital," the bank said.

Those killed were contractors and a security guard, police said. "They were in the building for maintenance work," said Police Colonel Charoen Srisasalak.

In February 2015 a fire broke out at the sprawling SCB complex located in the north of the Thai capital Bangkok, killing one fireman.

All SCB bank branches will open as usual today, the bank said.

SCB is Thailand's oldest commercial bank and Thailand's third largest lender by assets. – Reuters, March 14, 2016.

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