A massive 50-meter-deep sinkhole suddenly appeared in front of the Vajira Hospital in Bangkok early Wednesday morning, causing chaos and safety concerns for residents and authorities. The dramatic collapse was attributed to the ongoing construction of a nearby underground railway station. The incident, which occurred around 7 a.m., caused several cars and electricity poles to be swallowed into the gaping crater, adding to the disorder.
The affected area around Samsen Road in the historic old town of the Thai capital saw immediate road closures as local authorities responded to the crisis. The seismic event ruptured pipes, releasing torrents of water, while fallen electricity cables posed significant danger with sparks flying around the site.
In response to the precarious situation, patients and residents from nearby flats were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The sinkhole, measuring approximately 30 by 30 meters in width and reaching a depth of 50 meters, appeared alarmingly close to the public hospital.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt promptly arrived at the scene to evaluate the extent of the incident. With a background in engineering, Chadchart offered insight into the situation, explaining that the road subsidence took place over an area where a tunnel for the dual-track train line intersects with a planned new station.
“Once the land slipped into that tunnel, then the whole tunnel collapsed. It also burst a pipe, and the water made everything collapse further,” Governor Chadchart commented in a video circulated on social media, shedding light on the sequence of events that led to the sinkhole.
As investigations and damage assessments are underway, Governor Chadchart expressed optimism about sparing the hospital from the calamity, though urgent action is needed to seal the hole to prevent further disruptions. The incident highlights the delicate balance between urban development and infrastructure stability in rapidly growing cities like Bangkok.