A massive 164-foot sinkhole opened up after a road collapsed in Bangkok, Thailand, and the situation could soon worsen with very heavy rain expected within the next few hours
There was bedlam on the streets of Bangkok[1] as residents were left in chaos when a huge 50-metre-deep sinkhole opened up, swallowing cars.
A huge section of road collapsed in the Thai capital this morning, leaving a gaping hole in the ground that has forced evacuations of the surrounding area. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said officials believe the collapse was caused by the ongoing construction of an underground train station nearby.
Incredibly, there are no reports of casualties, but the collapse destroyed three vehicles and caused major traffic disruptions for hours. Videos of the harrowing collapse show the face of the road slowly sinking down – pulling down several electricity poles and damaging water pipes.
The problems are far from over. Authorities this afternoon warned that heavy rain, part of Thailand’s current monsoon season, could worsen the damage. One edge of the 164-foot hole stopped right in front of a police station, exposing its underground structure. A nearby hospital said it would close outpatient services for two days.
Bangkok was the world’s most visited city in 2024, as the destination rises in popularity following HBO filming the third series of White Lotus at the destination. A total of 32.4 million people made their way to the city, according to Euromonitor International’s World’s Top 100 City Destinations report.
“We’re monitoring the damage and rushing to backfill the gap,” Mr Sittpunt said, adding that “the situation has somewhat stabilised, though sliding may continue slightly”. Bangkok city officials said the hospital’s structure was not affected, but people were ordered to be evacuated from the police station and other nearby buildings.
In the footage, cars can be seen trying to back away as the hole grows larger, with people on foot fleeing, before it completely severed the four-lane road. It comes as other parts of Asia brace for Super Typhoon Ragasa, nicknamed the “king of storms”.
Bangkok is still recovering after hundreds died following a massive 8.2 magnitude earthquake that raised buildings to the ground across and Thailand[2]. High-rise buildings were reduced to piles of rubble and vast clouds of dust were launched into the air above Thai capital Bangkok when the earthquake radiated.
The tremors, which were immediately followed by a massive 6.2 magnitude sibling, has caused “massive damage”, crumbling a temple and killing its monk worshippers gathered inside. The worshippers inside are just 10 of the between 10,000 and potentially 100,000 the USGS fears could have died in the aftermath. Thousands of others are feared trapped below the rubble of toppled high rise buildings, with emergency officials launching a major operation to save any survivors.