Bangkok: The Prime Minister has directed the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to collect damages resulting from a road collapse in front of Vajira Hospital on Samsen Road. This incident has prompted the MRTA to halt the construction of the Purple Line south extension, which is under Contract 1 and involves CH. Karnchang and Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Public Company Limited as contractors. An expedited investigation into the cause of the collapse has been ordered by Mr. Pipat, who has also visited the site to assess the damage and determine liability.
According to Thai News Agency, the road surface collapse occurred in front of the entrance to Vajira Hospital, near the construction site of the 4th entrance/exit at Vajira Hospital Station (PP19) of the Purple Line Project, Tao Poon - Rat Burana (Kanchanaphisek Ring Road) section, on the morning of 24 September 2025. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, instructed Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms. Mallika Jiraphanwanich, to monitor the situation closely along with Mr. Kajpajon Udomthammaphakdi, Governor of the MRTA.
In response to the incident, the MRTA Governor, along with the Purple Line Project Director and his team, ordered an immediate halt to construction in the affected area for investigation. The construction area was cordoned off and surrounding areas evacuated as a safety precaution. Coordination with relevant public utility agencies, including the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, telecommunications companies, and local police, was established to expedite the situation and manage traffic. Vajira Hospital announced a two-day closure for outpatient services, maintaining only inpatient services.
The incident occurred in front of Vajira Hospital, related to the Purple Line, Tao Poon-Rat Burana section. The contractors, Ch. Karnchang Public Company Limited and Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Public Company Limited, are tasked with designing and constructing the tunnel and underground station from Tao Poon to the National Library, with a budget of 19.43 billion baht. The project, spanning approximately 4.8 kilometers, is under Contract 1 and is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, inspected the site and confirmed that the landslide was due to road subsidence during the Purple Line subway construction. Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities, and the hospital building remains unaffected. However, concerns have been raised about the Samsen Metropolitan Police Station building, where two or three piles have snapped, leading to evacuations of the station and nearby residents.
The government, in collaboration with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Vajira Hospital, is working to ensure public safety. Vajira Hospital has coordinated with network hospitals to manage patient services during the closure. Mr. Anutin emphasized the need for the MRTA to compile damage reports and identify responsible parties, while also engaging engineering institutes and public works departments to assist in determining the cause of the collapse.
Efforts are underway to restore the area to its original condition and provide compensation for property damage. An investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing, with particular attention to engineering factors and the unusual water rise observed on the road surface. The MRTA is also tasked with ensuring the safety of all electric train lines and expediting repairs to the affected area on Samsen Road.