On Saturday (March 15), in the early hours of the morning, a highway bridge under construction in the southwest of the Thai capital, Bangkok, collapsed, resulting in at least 5 deaths and 24 injuries, all of whom were construction site personnel.
According to various Thai media reports, the accident occurred around 1:40 am local time, with the collapsed bridge connecting to Rama II Road. Rama II Road is a major road leading from Bangkok to the southern region of Thailand. Photos from the scene show large metal and concrete structures fallen on the ground, completely blocking the road.
At the time of the accident, concrete pouring operations were underway at the construction site. Initial investigations indicated that the collapse of the bridge’s main truss was due to an excessive amount of concrete being poured.
Following the accident, the Bangkok Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department’s rescue teams and officials swiftly rushed to the scene, using search dogs and specialized equipment to look for survivors in the rubble. The Bangkok city government dispatched over 200 police officers and dozens of ambulances to participate in the rescue efforts.
Thai authorities confirmed that the accident had resulted in 5 deaths, 24 injuries, and 2 people missing. The 5 deceased individuals were all males, including a Thai engineer, 2 Thai workers, and 2 Myanmar workers; their bodies have been recovered and properly handled. The 24 injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Rescue operations are currently ongoing intensively.
Reportedly, as the lanes near the construction site were already closed, no road users were affected at the time.
Transport Minister of Thailand, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, also rushed to the scene upon learning of the incident. He expressed deep regret and sorrow over the casualties from the accident and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims.
He emphasized that the authorities are taking this matter very seriously, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. Those responsible for the construction will be summoned for questioning and legally penalized, while relevant agencies will provide compensations to the victims.
Director-General of the Thai Highway Authority, Surachet Laophulsuk, mentioned that they are working to clear the debris as quickly as possible, but it may take a week to complete. He added that the contractor responsible for the project has been suspended for 14 days pending investigation.
The highway project in question is a joint construction effort by Bangkok Inter-Thai Development Company (ITD) and Vichitbhan Plantation Limited Company (VCB), which officially commenced in January 2022 and was scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.