Bangkok Governor reveals massive sinkhole outside Vajira Hospital caused by Purple Line subway tunnel construction
The massive sinkhole in front of Vajira Hospital in Bangkok on September 24, 2025, caused by soil flowing into the Purple Line subway tunnel construction beneath the road surface.
BANGKOK — A gaping sinkhole measuring 30 by 30 meters and more than 15 meters deep suddenly opened up in front of Vajira Hospital in Bangkok’s Sam Sen district at 7:00 a.m. on September 24, sending shockwaves through the capital as dramatic video footage captured the moment the road collapsed.
Though no one was injured in the incident, the spectacular collapse has reignited safety concerns about the city’s ambitious infrastructure projects. The timing is particularly sensitive, coming just months after a devastating March 28 earthquake that brought down a State Audit Office building under construction, killing at least 92 people.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt quickly identified the culprit behind the dramatic road failure. The collapse stemmed from soil flowing into the Purple Line subway tunnel construction running beneath the area. This massive underground project stretches from Parliament through Sam Sen, tunnels under the Chao Phraya River, and continues toward Suksawat.
The disaster struck at one of the most complex points along the route—the future Vajira Hospital station. Here, engineers are building an intricate network of tunnels and underground spaces, with two opposing tunnels at different depths: one reaching 15 meters down, the other plunging 30 meters below ground. The station itself sits 30 meters underground, connected by a web of tunnels.
According to Governor Chadchart, the trouble began when the shallower tunnel developed cracks at a critical joint.
“Soil above began flowing into the tunnel and the underground construction spaces,” he explained. “This caused the road surface to collapse, dragging down electrical poles and rupturing water pipes. The broken pipes then washed even more soil into the tunnel, making the situation worse.”
The collapse immediately transformed the busy intersection into a danger zone. Traffic authorities shut down the Vajira Hospital intersection through Sang Hi intersection and sealed off surrounding areas as the damaged road surface threatened nearby infrastructure and posed serious risks to anyone passing by.
Railway officials moved swiftly to contain the crisis. The State Railway of Thailand ordered an immediate halt to all Purple Line construction in the affected area while investigators work to determine exactly what went wrong.
Construction barriers went up around the site, and authorities began evacuating residents from nearby buildings as a precaution.
“The current situation of concern involves the Sam Sen Police Station and shophouses that remain in the danger zone. We must control access and keep people out of a 100-meter radius from the landslide point,” Chadchart warned. “The next concern is rain, because if it falls, it will cause soil erosion and increase landslides. The Drainage Department will expedite drainage work while MRTA rushes to seal the tunnel.”
The governor emphasized that weather conditions could significantly worsen the situation, making rapid response efforts critical as teams work around the clock to stabilize the area and prevent further collapses.
The incident forced Vajira Hospital to make difficult operational decisions. The medical facility, part of Navamindradhiraj University’s Faculty of Medicine, announced it would suspend all outpatient services for at least two days. This includes primary care clinics and specialty services, though the hospital continues treating patients already admitted for inpatient care.
The sinkhole has become a stark reminder of the challenges Bangkok faces as it races to modernize its transportation network while managing the risks that come with major underground construction in an densely built urban environment.
Source: https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/09/24/bangkok-governor-reveals-massive-sinkhole-caused-by-subway-construction/
