A dramatic road collapse in central Bangkok early Wednesday morning has created a vast sinkhole, severely disrupting traffic and utilities in a densely populated area near Vajira Hospital.
The incident unfolded around 7 a.m. local time, just before the morning rush hour, when the ground gave way over an area spanning approximately 900 square meters.
Social media footage captured the pavement buckling and sinking gradually, with water gushing from a ruptured drainage pipe and toppling several electricity poles.
Two parked vehicles tumbled into the void, though fortunately, no occupants were present, averting any potential injuries.
The collapse halted all movement on the affected four-lane road, stranding commuters and forcing rerouting of essential services.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attributed the event to shifting soil from nearby underground train construction, emphasizing the absence of fatalities.
Investigations quickly pinpointed a burst pipe in an unfinished subway tunnel as the primary trigger, unleashing a torrent that eroded the subsurface.
Responding swiftly, authorities severed water and power supplies to the vicinity, mitigating further risks from the ensuing deluge.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration mobilized teams to inspect adjacent buildings, confirming the hospital's reinforced underground barriers provided a buffer against the subsidence.
While Vajira Hospital suspended outpatient operations for two days as a precaution, its core structure remained intact, allowing inpatient care to proceed uninterrupted.
The crater's edge perilously neared a local police station, whose subterranean elements were laid bare, prompting an immediate evacuation of personnel and the public from surrounding structures.
By midday, ground stabilization efforts had stemmed additional sinking, with round-the-clock monitoring in place to track any shifts.
Governor Chadchart Sittipunt highlighted the police station as a focal concern, underscoring the rapid response that prevented broader peril.
This episode underscores the vulnerabilities of Bangkok's expansive subterranean developments amid the ongoing monsoon season, where heavy rains could exacerbate instability.
The affected tunnel forms part of the Purple Line extension for the Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit system, aimed at linking western suburbs to the historic Dusit district.
Renowned for its royal palaces, Buddhist temples, and quaint shop houses, Dusit lies less than two miles from the site, including proximity to Dusit Palace, residence of the Thai royal family.
Upon completion, the line will traverse beneath the Parliament complex and National Library, enhancing connectivity in this tourist-favored riverfront zone.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand convened with top officials, including the prime minister and governor, to devise repair strategies, though no timeline for restoration has been announced.
City engineers are racing against potential downpours to backfill the hole and restore services, prioritizing public safety in this vital urban corridor.