Bangkok sinkhole: Thai MRT authority takes responsibility, will inspect all tunnels on same line
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A tunnel collapse opened up a sinkhole more than 18m deep along a Bangkok road early on Sept 24.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BANGKOK – The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has taken responsibility for the massive sinkhole dozens of metres deep in front of Vajira Hospital in Bangkok.
The location falls under Contract 1, which covers the design and construction of the tunnel and underground stations along the Taopoon-National Library section, involving a distance of 4.8km and worth 19.43 billion baht (S$778 million).
The contractor for this section is the CKST-PL joint venture, comprising CH Karnchang and Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction.
MRTA governor Gardphajon Udomdhammabhakdi visited the site with officials from the Ministry of Transport.
The MRTA has immediately halted construction at the affected area.
It has also coordinated with utility providers, including the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Metropolitan Electricity Authority and telecommunications companies, and the local police to address the situation swiftly.
Meanwhile, traffic police blocked a section of Samsen Road where water was found seeping out early on Sept 25, just 2km from the sinkhole in front of Vajira Hospital.
Officials discovered around 8.30am that a part of the road in front of Boon Rawd Brewery had water seeping out from the road surface, and the road appeared swollen.
It was similar to what occurred in front of the hospital before the road sank, creating a huge hole.
Mr Gardphajon said the ground in front of Vajira Hospital caved in
This also caused a main water pipe to break, allowing soil and water to flow into the station.
The exact cause will be determined through joint inspections with the relevant engineering bodies. The MRTA will take responsibility for the damage caused.
“Firstly, we need to identify the true cause and stop further soil and water movement underground.
“If we rush to refill the area without understanding the root cause, further shifts could lead to the same issue,” Mr Gardphajon said.
The MRTA has also instructed contractors to halt construction and close off parts of the construction site, while evacuating nearby residents to ensure their safety.
Tunnels to be inspected
Mr Gardphajon confirmed that the MRTA will be inspecting all tunnels along the Purple Line.
The inspections are expected to take time but are necessary to ensure public confidence, he said.
He acknowledged that the project may need to adjust its original timeline, with services now expected to be delayed from the planned gradual openings in 2028.
“Although the chances of this happening again are extremely low, we need to conduct a thorough inspection to assure the public,” he said.
While the Purple Line tunnel construction under Contract 1 has been completed, there was a landslide affecting the tunnel.
It has been confirmed that the main tunnel structure and drilling were finished three months ago, and it is believed that external factors may have caused the issue, which will require further investigation.
The MRTA also confirmed that contractors were required to meet specific qualifications to ensure their experience matched the complexity of each construction contract.
Mr Kittikorn Tanpao, MRTA deputy governor of engineering and construction, explained that despite contractors stating the tunnel construction was completed, issues with water and soil entering the tunnel need to be thoroughly investigated, especially at the junctions, which are weak points and could be impacted by high water pressure, potentially causing subsidence.
Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, one of the contractors for the Taopoon-Ratchadapisek section of the Purple Line, confirmed that construction of the tunnel near Vajira Hospital was completed several months ago.
“We are not currently conducting any further drilling, but the cause of the surface subsidence is being carefully examined on-site,” a source from Sino-Thai said.
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