Bangkok Sinkhole Repair: Progress on Samsen Road Impresses!

Bangkok Sinkhole Repair: Progress on Samsen Road Impresses!

On Saturday, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited Samsen Road in Dusit district, just outside Vajira Hospital, to check on the progress of repair work on a large sinkhole. This was caused by a leaky water pipe burst on September 24, 2025 and subsequently led to significant traffic disruptions. The sinkhole, which measures approximately 30 x 30 meters and is 20 meters deep, also affected the subway tunnel under construction and caused road closures in the area.

Chadchart emphasized that restoration work is progressing well. So far, 9,400 cubic meters of sand have been filled, which is equivalent to about 900 truckloads. Today, October 18, an additional 3,500 cubic meters of gravel will be brought to the site, a process that is expected to take two days. After the gravel has been laid, steel plates are planned to facilitate access for heavy machinery needed to demolish the Samsen police building and then rebuild it on the same site. This work should be returned to the original design.

Stability of the environment

Meanwhile, various security measures have been taken to avoid further damage to the neighboring buildings, including the Vajira Hospital. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is monitoring the situation around the clock using over 10 surveillance cameras installed. Reports on the stability of the surrounding structures combined with the sand filling are positive, preventing water from entering the MRT tunnel. The cracks in the area have also shifted slightly, but have not expanded.

The current work is going according to plan. An additional 1,300 cubic meters of sand was delivered by the BMA on October 2, while workers used a crane to clear debris and cut underground communications cables on Sunday. Assistant Professor Thanes Weerasiri confirmed that pumping of concrete into the collapsed area is already underway and waiting for it to harden. The final step is the asphalting work, which will take place once the area is sufficiently reinforced and stable.

Economic impact and supply

Vajira Hospital, located adjacent to the construction site, is slowly returning to normality while patient numbers have increased as many patients catch up on their rescheduled appointments. On Monday, they treated over 3,000 outpatients, including both scheduled and emergency appointments. To solve the transportation problems in the area, shuttle services have been set up by various schools to make it easier for patients to access the hospital.

Overall, the BMA has made the repair work a priority because Samsen Road is an important artery in Bangkok. Governor Chadchart assures that despite the complexity of the situation, progress is being made to reopen the road to traffic soon. While commuters continue to face diversions and delays, conditions in the area appear to have already improved significantly.

For detailed information and updates on the ongoing work, interested citizens can access the reporting on Nation of Thailand, The Thaiger and Weekly flash track.