Bangkok Sinkhole Near Hospital Linked to Metro Works

A massive sinkhole opened Wednesday morning on Samsen Road in central Bangkok outside Vajira Hospital and a nearby police station, tearing through a four‑lane road, pulling down electricity poles, rupturing water pipes and damaging at least three vehicles but causing no injuries. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt and other officials said the collapse happened above an under‑construction underground train station after soil flowed into the tunnel, a problem worsened by a burst or leaky water pipe and heavy monsoon rain. Size estimates vary, with authorities and videos putting the hole at roughly 30m by 30m up to about 50m across and depths reported between about 20–60 feet. Emergency crews cut power and water, evacuated the police station and nearby buildings, and suspended outpatient services at Vajira Hospital while engineers work to seal the tunnel leak, stabilize the site and assess surrounding structures. The state Mass Rapid Transit Authority and other agencies are investigating, and senior officials including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned repairs could take many months to a year as forecasts of continuing seasonal downpours, including typhoon-related rain, could aggravate damage.