Bangkok sinkhole: Repairs ‘progressing well’, 2 lanes set to reopen on Oct 8

BANGKOK – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced on Sept 29 that repairs to the massive sinkhole on Samsen Road in front of Vajira Hospital were progressing well and that the road would be partially reopened to traffic by Oct 8.

The BMA’s road collapse command centre reported the update on the morning of Sept 29, following a night visit to the site by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and national police chief Police General Kitrat Phankaew on Sept 28. The two were briefed by the engineer in charge of repairs, along with officials from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the BMA.

Repair progress and engineering measures

As of Sept 29, the command centre said 1,225 cubic m of concrete had been poured to form the base of the sinkhole. Engineers had also applied shotcrete – sprayed concrete projected at high velocity – to reinforce the walls of the hole. Water pumps have been installed to drain rainwater.

The next stage will involve relocating power poles, cables, transformers and damaged water pipes before the hole is refilled. If no further incidents occur, at least two traffic lanes above the site will be reopened by Oct 8.

The sinkhole, measuring about 30m by 30m wide and 20m deep,

appeared on Sept 23

. It was apparently caused by a leaking water pipe, which led to soil subsidence and collapse into a subway tunnel under construction.

Safety of nearby structures

The command centre said the structures of Vajira Hospital and nearby buildings remain intact, with no signs of cracks or subsidence, though monitoring continues, especially after heavy rainfall.

The hospital has fully resumed services at its outpatient, surgical and emergency wards, with around 1,500 to 2,000 patients visiting daily. Traffic police are directing vehicles in the area.

Measures to mitigate further risks

BMA governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the operation had not faced major obstacles so far, as rainfall had been lighter than expected. He noted that the BMA had prepared

flood-control measures by plugging drainage pipes

to stop water flowing into the sinkhole and by installing water pumps around the site.

Mr Chadchart also urged patients to avoid driving to Vajira Hospital, as repair works require around 400 truckloads of sand-concrete mix – more than 4,000 cubic m in total – which will involve about 1,000 truck trips.

Next steps in reconstruction

Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand governor Gardphajon Udomdhammabhakdi said removal of wreckage – including power poles, pipes, and broken concrete slabs – would be completed by Sept 29 after two days of work.

The next phase will see workers filling the space under Samsen Police Station with cement-mixed sand, one layer at a time. This stage is expected to take four to five days to complete. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK