CaliToday (24/9/2025)
BANGKOK – A dramatic scene unfolded in the Thai capital today as a large sinkhole that opened up in the road in front of Vajira Hospital continued to expand throughout the afternoon, threatening an adjacent police station and creating a perilous situation for rescue workers.
The incident began with a significant road collapse on Samsen Road, a busy thoroughfare in the city's Dusit district. By mid-morning, the situation drew significant attention as a pickup truck was left teetering precariously on the edge of the newly formed crater. At approximately 10:35 AM, emergency crews successfully executed a delicate operation, using a crane to safely lift the pickup truck from the collapsing precipice, averting an initial disaster.
However, relief was short-lived as the situation rapidly deteriorated with the onset of afternoon rain.
At 1:25 PM, in a moment of high tension, a large section of soil from beneath the grounds of the adjacent Sam Sen Police Station suddenly gave way. The collapse sent a cascade of earth and debris sliding deeper into the crater. The event occurred while two rescue workers were rappelling down inside the sinkhole, attempting to secure a car that had already fallen in. Both workers were quickly pulled up to safety, narrowly escaping the secondary collapse.
Video:
The instability of the ground became even more apparent shortly after. At 1:50 PM, the concrete platform where the rescued pickup truck had been parked just hours earlier collapsed entirely into the widening void.
According to reports, the crater continued to expand until around 2:00 PM, with the ongoing soil movement making the recovery of the remaining vehicle increasingly difficult and dangerous. Authorities have cordoned off the area as engineers and geologists assess the stability of the surrounding ground and investigate the cause of the collapse, which is often linked to soil erosion exacerbated by heavy rains or issues with subterranean utilities.
Video and photographs of the dramatic events were shared by the Public Disaster Relief Volunteers of Thailand (Thon 34-00, Bunwipha Base), capturing the tense moments of the vehicle and personnel rescues. The incident has caused significant traffic disruptions in the area and raised concerns about infrastructure integrity.
