The Dusit District Office has ordered the closure of multiple buildings along Samsen and Sukhothai Roads as a precautionary measure following the appearance of a large sinkhole near Vajira Hospital.
The edict, issued this afternoon, prohibits the use of affected properties, including building numbers 582, 584, 586, 590, 592, 538/1, and 544-544/85 (101-112, 201-216, 301-316, 401-416, 501-516) on Samsen Road, as well as 148, 150, 152, 156, 158, v162, v168, 170, 172, 174, and 158/6 on Sukhothai Road.
Assistant Professor Thanet Veerasiri, advisor to the Engineering Institute of Thailand, stressed that the immediate priority is to salvage the car trapped in the sinkhole and to stop the broken water main from leaking further. Ongoing water seepage poses a serious risk of continued soil movement, he warned, with heavy rainfall increasing the danger.
Plans are underway to stabilize the soil once the leak is contained, using pilings and concrete slabs. However, areas surrounding the sinkhole, including Samsen police station and nearby shop houses, have already shown subsidence of around two millimetres. Authorities have advised residents in the immediate vicinity to evacuate to temporary shelters provided by officials.
Regarding the structure of Vajira Hospital, Thanet assured that the building’s walls remain strong and do not require reinforcement.
Meanwhile, the Dusit District Office is distributing water to residents of the Suan Oy community, as the main supply remains suspended until repairs to the damaged pipe are completed.