CCTV Footage Shows Wat Sai Chol Embankment Collapse, Houses Swept Into Bang Pakong River
An embankment at Wat Sai Chol temple in Chachoengsao collapsed into the Bang Pakong River on May 3rd, destroying several homes and businesses; authorities are surveying nearby areas for additional erosion risks and planning long-term soluti
CCTV footage has revealed the dramatic moment when the embankment in front of Wat Sai Chol temple in Rangsit collapsed and slid into the Bang Pakong River on May 3rd at 3:10 PM, dragging multiple residential structures and a motorcycle repair shop down with it. District officials, led by Prattaweep Wijob, the deputy district chief of Muang Chachoengsao, along with Sutheep Sathit, head of Ban Mai Subdistrict Administration Organization, and community leaders visited the site on the morning of May 4th to assess damage and distribute relief supplies.
Official Prattaweep announced that local agencies would urgently survey neighboring areas, as river erosion from the Bang Pakong River is occurring at multiple points. He stated plans to escalate the issue to provincial level to develop long-term solutions in coordination with the Department of Irrigation and relevant agencies. Local authorities are also seeking assistance with repairs and reconstruction for affected residents.
Subtheep reported that concrete cutting equipment would be deployed the same day to remove cracked concrete panels, as cracks had expanded more than one hand-span since the initial collapse, to prevent further structural failures before water levels rise.
Aswin, 30, the owner of the damaged motorcycle repair shop, expressed his devastation. He was delivering river shrimp when his wife called to inform him of the disaster. The shop and house, built over 20 years of accumulated savings, now lay in ruins. He has temporarily stored valuables with relatives and is sleeping in a tent at the site to guard remaining possessions, unable to sleep due to the sound of concrete cracking throughout the night.
Local shopkeeper witnesses described hearing a thunderous sound before watching the embankment collapse into the river before their eyes. They noted fortunate timing—the incident occurred during low water season, as high water would have had residents wading beneath the embankment harvesting shrimp for shrimp paste production, potentially resulting in fatalities.
Authorities remain on high alert for additional collapses in the area and have cordoned off the zone with warning barriers.
