Parliament Safety Crisis: 101 Hazards Found After Ceiling Collapse

At 11:30 a.m. on September 14, 2569, at Parliament, a group of new senators led by Nantana Nantavarodhas, accompanied by Sunthon Preuksphipat, Navathrichai Phongsuwan, Pornchai Witthayaleisphandhu, Maneerath Khemawong, and Wilasak Chanthapituk, a former Bangkok MP from the Democrat Party, held a press conference regarding the collapse of the ceiling in the B2 cafeteria. Nantana put on a safety helmet before beginning the briefing, stating that anyone wanting to move safely through Parliament would need to wear one, given the cafeteria incident—a space frequented by MPs, staff, media, and all personnel. She noted that if the ceiling had collapsed that day, many would not have been standing there to report the news.

Nantana recalled that on July 7, they had warned that Parliament's warranty would expire on July 15, 2569, at which point the building was already showing signs of flooding, broken toilets, cracked walls, leaking ceilings, and collapsed sections. She criticized the lack of action, noting that the Speaker later inspected and found severe deterioration, prompting budget allocation for repairs rather than holding the contractor, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Public Company Limited, accountable before the warranty ended.

She described the current safety situation as requiring visitors to watch the ceiling while walking, risking falls into the reflecting pool. On the previous Thursday, a monk had fallen into the pool. During parliamentary sessions, staff must hold buckets to catch water during rain—water that sometimes comes from air conditioning units rather than rain itself. Dead rats in the pool and other animals displaced during flooding further damage Thailand's international image, she said, especially given that Parliament is the world's second-largest government building after the Pentagon.

Nantana emphasized that foreign media coverage of Parliament's 20 billion baht cost alongside its collapsed ceilings and water damage would severely harm the institution's credibility. She called for immediate repairs to ensure the safety and dignity of those working inside, not for aesthetics, which she said no longer exist.

Sunthon reported that when the ceiling collapsed at 6:30 a.m., he attempted an inspection but found the area sealed off. Engineers were scheduled to drill and inspect multiple wet spots, with preliminary findings suggesting air-conditioning water dripping onto ceilings was the cause. Beyond the ceiling, water from underground pipes had flooded the B2 parking lot, attributed to a faulty pump meant to drain water to the Chao Phraya River, with concerns that rising river levels could force groundwater up into the building. Cracks were also found around the reflecting pool.

Sunthon stressed the numerous problems and repeated warnings, criticizing officials for showing deference to contractors instead of prioritizing correctness and safety. He referenced the building's original name, "Sappayasaphasathan" (Place of Righteous Action), coined by the architect, a national artist, and urged that repairs reflect that noble purpose.