BANGKOK — Tragedy struck in Bangkok as an elevated roadway under construction collapsed, resulting in the loss of at least five lives. The incident occurred during the early hours in the southwestern region of Thailand’s bustling capital and left 24 individuals injured, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit confirmed.
Suriya expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and assured that appropriate compensation would be provided by the construction contractors and other involved agencies. The fatalities included four construction workers and an engineer. Fortunately, there were no casualties among road users since the traffic lanes in proximity to the construction had been closed prior to the collapse.
Bangkok’s police commander, Siam Boonsom, reported that investigators are working to unravel the cause of the catastrophic failure. Legal actions will be pursued against any parties found culpable.
Images from the scene revealed that massive metal and concrete components had tumbled to the ground, effectively obstructing the entire roadway.
The 5-kilometer (approximately 3-mile) elevated roadway project commenced in 2022, as per details available on the website of the Expressway Authority of Thailand. Surachet Laophulsuk, the authority’s governor, indicated that clean-up operations are underway, although it could take up to a week to remove the debris. Additionally, all contractors involved have been temporarily suspended for 14 days pending the investigation.
Roadway and construction safety remains a significant concern in Thailand, and the site of Saturday’s collapse forms part of a major route linking Bangkok to the country’s southern region. This particular construction project has faced considerable criticism due to repeated delays and frequent accidents that have claimed lives.
In response, Suriya mentioned that the transportation ministry is developing new guidelines. These regulations would penalize contractors found responsible for construction mishaps, including suspensions and a potential ban from participating in future government contracts.
