SARABURI, Thailand – In a devastating incident, a high-voltage electricity pole came crashing down while power lines were being pulled along the roadside near Wat Mahalok in Ban Khrua Subdistrict, Ban Mor District, Saraburi Province. The incident, which resulted in both injuries and fatalities, prompted an immediate response from search and rescue teams, who rushed to the scene and transported the injured to Ban Mor Hospital.
Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, Rt. Col. Thongkham Photyai, of Ban Mor Police Station, Saraburi Province, was the first to receive the report of the incident. His swift action in relaying the information to authorities set in motion the response efforts.
Upon arrival at the scene, responders were met with a grim sight – a cluster of newly installed 14-meter high-voltage electricity poles had collapsed, with a total of 13 poles strewn across the area. The fallen poles lay shattered and broken, posing a hazardous environment. Among the injured, there were 14 individuals, with 13 of them rushed to Ban Mor Hospital for immediate medical attention, while one was taken to Tha Ruea Hospital.
Tragically, two individuals succumbed to their injuries at Ban Mor Hospital. They were identified as Mr. Katin Sivilaisak, a 27-year-old Laotian citizen, and Mr. Xem Kavanh, a 26-year-old Laotian citizen. Both lost their lives in the accident after being crushed by the fallen electricity poles.
Eyewitnesses at the scene, mainly workers involved in the power line installation, reported that the catastrophe unfolded as they were engaged in pulling the electricity lines atop the newly installed poles. Without warning, the poles gave way, triggering a domino effect that led to the collapse of the entire line of 13 poles. The injured and the unfortunate deceased were all employed as workers contracted by the Regional Electricity Authority of Tha Ruea District in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.
Mr. Samerong Pummara, the Regional Electricity Manager overseeing the Tha Ruea District in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, issued a statement regarding the incident. He disclosed that the Regional Electricity Authority had received a report from the technician responsible for the work. According to the report, during the process of pulling high-voltage electricity lines, 13 electricity poles had unexpectedly fallen. The exact cause of this catastrophic collapse remains undetermined and will be subject to a thorough investigation. Preliminary information indicates one fatality and five individuals suffering from injuries.
The fallen electricity poles, constructed of high-strength concrete and measuring 14 meters and 30 centimeters in height, now serve as a grim reminder of the tragedy that unfolded. The injured and deceased individuals were all part of a contracted workforce employed by the Regional Electricity Authority in Tha Ruea District. Initial reports suggest that eight individuals sustained injuries during this tragic incident.
As the investigation progresses, questions surrounding the safety protocols and the exact circumstances leading to the collapse of these electricity poles will undoubtedly be scrutinized, while the community mourns the loss of two lives and hopes for the swift recovery of the injured.