BANGKOK, Sept 24 (TNA) – A new landslide occurred at the site of a collapsed road in front of Vajira Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, forcing officials and reporters to flee as engineers warn of spreading sinkhole.
The incident highlights the ongoing instability of the area, where a persistent water leak has been weakening the soil. The new collapse expanded the existing sinkhole, confirming warnings from the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT).
According to the EIT, a sinkhole in front of Vajira Hospital could get bigger as a persistent water leak continues to destabilize the ground.
EIT advisor Tanet Weerasiri said water from ruptured pipes is weakening the soil, and more rain would increase the risk of a wider collapse. Authorities are racing to stop the leak, which is a key step to temporarily stabilizing the area.
Engineers are using 3D scanners to assess the sinkhole’s size, and inspections are underway at a nearby building after some pilings were found to be cracked.
Suriyachai Raweewan, Director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said the area has been secured and a previous attempt to recover a trapped vehicle was called off due to the unstable ground.
Civil engineers and contractors are developing a plan to repair the damage, but they emphasize that the first priority is to stop the water flow. Attempts to fill the hole with soil and sand would be futile as long as water is still present.
The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority has reportedly shut off the main water supply, but residual water is still seeping from the pipes.
The tunnel, which is part of a railway project, is nine kilometers long and four meters wide, meaning water can flow along its entire length. -819 (TNA)
