Woman in Thailand falls 2m after manhole cover gives way, trapped underground for half an hour

SAMUT SAKHON, Thailand – A 54-year-old woman narrowly escaped serious injury after falling into a 2m-deep drainage manhole in the heart of Samut Sakhon city on the afternoon of Sept 2.

The incident occurred when Ms Wiparat Yonnawa stepped on a concrete cover over the manhole which unexpectedly gave way and sent her plunging 2m below ground into about a metre of water. She remained trapped there for nearly half an hour until a passer-by finally noticed her and called for help.

Recounting her terrifying experience, Ms Wiparat said she had gone out to shop, and that when she was on her way out, there appeared to be nothing wrong with the cover of the manhole, which is near her home.

However, on her way back, it gave way when she stepped on it. As a result, she suffered pain, helplessness and the fear of drowning. She said that if the water level had been any higher, she may not have survived.

After she was rescued from the manhole, she was taken to hospital, where she was treated for bruises and scratches.

Doctors said that though her bruises were severe, there was no internal bleeding. However, she is still concerned about potential long-term effects of the incident because she has pre-existing health conditions.

After the accident, Samut Sakhon’s deputy mayor visited her in hospital. Although Ms Wiparat was contacted by the municipality later, there had been no talk of compensation as of press time.

She urged the authorities to take preventive measures to avoid similar accidents in the future, saying that “if a child had fallen in, they may not have survived. Proper signs or barriers should be put in place if there is any work being done that may pose a danger to the public”.

Meanwhile, deputy mayor Sakchai Nimitpanya said initial inquiries show that municipality staff were tasked with inspecting all drainage manholes in preparation for high tide. Samut Sakhon province lies along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr Sakchai said he believes that the staff may not have securely closed the manhole cover after inspection or left it ajar to allow for the removal of garbage.

The municipality has accepted responsibility for the oversight and paid for Ms Wiparat’s treatment.

It has also ordered an immediate inspection of all manhole covers in the area to ensure they are properly secured and in good condition, and has given staff strict instructions to prevent a recurrence of such an incident. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK