Bangkok orders evacuations, closes road after subway tunnel leak

BANGKOK, July 10 (TNA) - Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt ordered the temporary evacuation of residents and closed a major road near the Wongwian Yai intersection after a water leak at an underground subway construction site caused ground subsidence.

The incident occurred at a construction site for the MRT Purple Line South project on Prachatipok Road. Water leakage inside a water-retention basin caused surrounding soil to subside, prompting authorities to close the road and monitor a 30-meter radius around the site.

"Our primary concern is safety on the surface. We are monitoring the rate of water and soil leakage, ground subsidence, and whether nearby buildings are tilting," Chadchart said.

About 60 residents from three commercial buildings along Prachatipok Road were ordered to evacuate for approximately one week. Sensors have been installed on nearby structures to monitor structural movement and tilting in real-time.

Local authorities fully closed Prachatipok Road in both directions to reduce traffic vibrations and facilitate repairs, advising commuters to use alternative routes or public transit.

Contractors for the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) have pumped out water and injected concrete into the soil to stabilize the area. While initial engineering checks showed no significant further sinking of nearby buildings, the local district office issued a temporary ban on entering the affected structures until safety is confirmed.

The project's contractor will cover accommodation costs for the displaced residents. - 819 (TNA)