A section of Kanchnapisek Road in the Thonburi area remains closed to traffic this morning after subsidence yesterday.

Initial investigations indicate that the collapse was caused by a break in a subterranean water supply tunnel  in the area, resulting in water being released and eroding the ground beneath the road.

Kriengkrai Detchaiprakarn, the director of the Thonburi Highways Department, stated that officials from the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) have already located and repaired the crack, which was at a depth of about 25 meters.

Officials are currently working against time to cover the damaged area of the road with asphalt, as a temporary measure, to allow reopening to traffic, he added.

The full repair will have to be carefully planned, resembling the construction of a new road, and is expected to take about a week at an estimated cost of Bt3 million -4 million, he said.

The MWA will claim the sum from the construction company contracted to build the water supply pipe.