Eleven workers were injured, three of them seriously, after a historic pagoda under renovation at Wat Phrayatham Voraviharn in Bangkok Noi district, Bangkok, caved in before noon today.

Police reported that workers were moving in steel girders to support the foundation of the pagoda when it subsided.

Eye-witnesses said there were loud noises and debris rained on the workers, some of who were trapped underneath for many hours before they were rescued.

The temple and the pagoda, which was designed as a bell tower,  were said to have been built during the time of King Rama III.  The restoration work has been undertaken by the Fine Arts Department since May this year.

Engineering experts inspected the structure in the afternoon and believed that its foundation was still solid.  However, a more thorough inspection will be conducted tomorrow.