A colossal sinkhole, measuring approximately 30 by 30 meters, tore through a bustling street in Thailand’s capital on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, swallowing cars, toppling electricity poles, and rupturing water pipes in a dramatic scene captured in viral videos. The sudden collapse, occurring in front of a major hospital in Bangkok’s Samphanthawong district, forced immediate evacuations of nearby buildings and disrupted essential services, plunging the area into chaos. While no injuries were reported, three vehicles sustained significant damage, and authorities have launched a race against time to stabilize the site amid fears of further collapse due to impending heavy rainfall.
The incident, which unfolded during peak morning traffic, sent shockwaves through the city. Footage circulating on social media platforms like X shows the asphalt buckling, engulfing a sedan and dragging down a 10-meter electricity pole as onlookers scrambled for safety. The sinkhole’s proximity to Chulalongkorn Hospital prompted the facility to suspend outpatient services for two days, though officials confirmed the hospital’s structural integrity remained intact. Nearby buildings, including a police station and commercial complexes, were evacuated as a precaution, with residents relocated to temporary shelters in safer districts.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who inspected the site alongside a team of engineers and disaster response officials, attributed the collapse to ongoing construction of a new underground station for the city’s MRT Purple Line extension. “The soil flowed into the tunnel, causing surrounding structures to collapse and a large water pipe to break,” Chadchart explained, noting that the destabilized soil likely exacerbated the cave-in. The construction, managed by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), has been under scrutiny for its environmental impact, with locals previously raising concerns about vibrations and groundwater disruptions in the densely populated area.
Also Read: Kerala Minister Collapses in Assembly, Rushed to Hospital
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also visited the site, underscored the urgency of the situation, announcing that repairs to the tunnel and affected road would take at least 12 months. “This is a priority issue, and it will be addressed in the first meeting of my new cabinet,” he stated, pledging comprehensive support for affected residents and businesses. The government has allocated an initial ฿500 million (approximately $15 million USD) for emergency repairs, with additional funding to be sought through international aid and infrastructure grants. Anutin also directed the MRTA to halt tunneling operations pending a full safety audit.
Emergency measures are in full swing to mitigate further risks. Authorities have cut electricity and water supplies in a 500-meter radius to prevent electrocutions and flooding, given the broken 300-mm water main that exacerbated the sinkhole’s impact. Teams are deploying industrial pumps to drain accumulated water, while geotechnical engineers monitor soil movement using seismic sensors to detect potential secondary collapses. Barricades and traffic diversions have been established along Sukhumvit and Rama IV roads, snarling traffic in an already congested city of 10 million. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is also fast-tracking the sealing of the tunnel breach, using high-strength concrete and steel reinforcements to stabilize the site.
The incident has reignited debates over Bangkok’s rapid urban development, particularly the expansion of its 150-km MRT network, which aims to alleviate chronic traffic woes but often disrupts communities. The Purple Line project, set to connect Bangkok’s outer districts by 2027, has faced delays due to funding shortages and technical challenges, with this sinkhole exposing vulnerabilities in construction oversight. Local activists, citing similar incidents in 2019 and 2022, have called for stricter regulations, including mandatory public consultations and real-time monitoring of groundwater levels during tunneling.
Chulalongkorn Hospital, a critical healthcare hub serving over 5,000 patients daily, has shifted critical cases to other facilities like Siriraj Hospital, while outpatient services remain suspended until September 26. The BMA has set up mobile medical units to bridge the gap, prioritizing elderly and low-income residents affected by the evacuations. Meanwhile, small businesses along the impacted street, including food stalls and retail shops, face losses estimated at ฿10 million daily, prompting calls for government compensation.
With Thailand’s monsoon season peaking, meteorologists warn that heavy rains forecast through October could deepen the sinkhole or trigger new ones, given Bangkok’s low-lying terrain and aging drainage systems. The city, built on a swampy river delta, has long battled subsidence, sinking at a rate of 1–2 cm annually due to groundwater extraction and urban sprawl. Governor Chadchart has vowed to expedite repairs, with 24/7 crews working to backfill the sinkhole with stabilized soil and restore the road surface by mid-2026.
As Bangkok grapples with this urban crisis, the incident underscores the delicate balance between infrastructure ambition and public safety, with authorities under pressure to prevent a repeat while restoring normalcy to a shaken city.
Also Read: Unsafe Building Collapses in Delhi’s Subzi Mandi, Traps 22 and Damages Homes