Bangkok: Geotechnical engineers have determined that the collapse of Rama 2 Road was not due to a geological disaster but was instead caused by a ruptured water pipe that eroded the soil beneath the road. The incident, which took place near Big C in Mueang Samut Sakhon District, resulted in significant traffic congestion but poses no further risk of expansion.
According to Thai News Agency, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sutthisak Sornlump, Head of the Geotechnical and Foundation Engineering Research and Development Center at Kasetsart University, analyzed photographs of the site and confirmed that the collapse was not a natural sinkhole. He identified a ruptured water pipe as the likely cause, which allowed high-pressure water to erode the soil, creating a void under the road. A pickup truck was caught on the edge of the sinkhole but did not fall in.
Dr. Sutthisak clarified that the collapse differs from a previous incident near Vajira Hospital, where a tunnel for subway construction caused soil to flow into it, leading to a more extensive road collapse. He emphasized that the current situation on Rama 2 Road involved no such tunnels and that repairs to the water pipe have been completed by the Provincial Waterworks Authority.
Addressing concerns about potential links to a recent crane collapse, Dr. Sutthisak stated that the two incidents are unrelated. The crane collapse was due to construction factors unrelated to the road's foundation, and therefore, it does not endanger the road's stability or the ongoing elevated road construction project.
Authorities have quickly responded by cordoning off the affected area, managing traffic, and inspecting the structural integrity of the road. Efforts are underway to repair the damage and reopen the road to traffic promptly.