A massive sinkhole, roughly 50 metres deep, suddenly opened on Samsen Road in Bangkok on Wednesday, causing chaos near the Vajira Hospital. The crater swallowed cars, uprooted electricity poles, and ruptured water pipes, prompting authorities to cordon off the area. Video footage of the sinkhole quickly went viral, showing traffic at a standstill and a white truck precariously perched at the edge.
Officials linked the collapse to the construction of a nearby railway station. As a precaution, patients from Vajira Hospital and residents of nearby apartments were evacuated. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt confirmed that there were no injuries or fatalities, though three vehicles were damaged. Outpatient services at the hospital have been suspended until the following day, while inpatient and emergency services continue as normal.
The incident comes amid heavy rainfall in the city, associated with the approaching Super Typhoon Ragasa, which is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms to Bangkok through Thursday. The combination of construction activity and saturated ground likely contributed to the sudden formation of the sinkhole.
