Prime Minister Anutin said today that initial assessments suggested the road collapse near Vajira Hospital on Samsen Road was caused by soil sliding into the Purple Line station due to groundwater movement and a ruptured water pipe.
Anutin visited the collapse site where road subsidence created a 50-metre-deep sinkhole, which swallowed a police tow truck parked in front of Sam Sen Police Station and two utility poles.
No one was injured in the incident, which occurred around 7am.
He expressed concern over structural risks at Sam Sen Police Station, where two to three foundation piles had broken.
As Vajira Hospital has suspended outpatient services for two days for safety reasons, Anutin said the government has coordinated with nearby hospitals to accommodate Vajira patients.
The Public Health Ministry also confirmed that Rajavithi and Lerdsin Hospitals can handle the additional patient load.
Anutin said experts from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, which is constructing the Purple Line, and the Engineering Institute of Thailand would jointly investigate the exact cause of the collapse.
He stressed that the government and MRTA will be responsible for compensation and repairs, adding that the priority is to restore safety and return the area to normal as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, MRTA Governor Kanphoj Udomdhammabhakdi said the collapse occurred at the Vajira Hospital station of the southern extension of the Purple Line, where twin tunnels are located at depths of about 15 and 20 metres.
He said underground water movement caused soil to sink at the tunnel–station junction, which also broke a major water pipe. The MRTA pledged to stop soil movement, restore the site, and fully compensate for damages.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said emergency and safety measures included cutting the water supply and arranging alternative water distribution for residents, cutting the power supply and removing surrounding electrical lines for safety, and assessing the stability of nearby buildings.
The governor warned that rainfall could worsen the situation by washing more soil into the exposed areas.
The BMA and the MRTA have set up an on-site command centre to manage the crisis, with public safety and structural stability as their top priorities.
Traffic has been closed from Vajira Intersection to Sanghi Intersection and nearby areas due to the collapse, which has affected utilities and posed risks to commuters.
