BANGKOK: The Dusit district has closed the Samsen Road after a severe road collapse near Vajira Hospital disrupted utilities and resulted in heavy traffic on Krung Thon Bridge.
On Wednesday morning (Sept 24), Dusit district authorities announced the immediate closure of traffic from Vajira intersection to Sanghi intersection and the surrounding areas after a section of Samsen Road severely subsided, damaging nearby utilities and posing risks to commuters.
At around 7am, traffic police from Samsen station reported that the road surface in front of Vajira Hospital had collapsed, causing a burst water pipe. Authorities shut down traffic to allow urgent repairs.
Preliminary inspection revealed that the incident was caused by a massive road subsidence, creating a crater measuring about 30 by 30 metres and 50 metres deep. The collapse continues to expand, affecting areas in front of Vajira Hospital and Samsen police station.
Authorities confirmed that no injuries have been reported so far. Patients and nearby residents are being evacuated from the affected zone as a precaution.
The incident has caused severe congestion along Samsen Road and extended to the inbound Krung Thon (Sanghi) Bridge, where traffic stretched for several kilometres.
The collapse occurred near the construction site of the new MRT line’s “Vajira Station,” directly in front of the hospital. Officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and related agencies are working to stabilise the area and restore traffic as quickly as possible.
Dusit district closes traffic after major road collapse near Vajira Hospital
Emergency radio centre Rama 199 reported that the collapse created a large crater in front of Vajira Hospital.
Two electricity poles and a tow truck from Samsen police station fell into the hole. The subsidence has since widened, prompting the Metropolitan Electricity Authority to conduct urgent safety measures. - The Nation/ANN
