Phichit Overflow Dams Collapse Within Days of Completion; Same Contractor Found Responsible for All Failures
Four newly completed dams in Phichit province collapsed within days of handover during heavy rainfall, all built by the same contractor who was responsible for previous dam failures in the region.
Heavy rainfall in Phichit province has caused all 30 overflow dams in the Phichit Administrative Organization's "One Subdistrict, One Dam" project to overflow, with four newly completed dams that were awaiting handover collapsing from water erosion. The latest failure occurred at the Khlong Huai Yai-Khlong Huai Lek water retention dam in Moo 8, Ban Kui Krachai, Wang Mok Subdistrict, Wachirbarami District, which was swept away by flooding from the Khlong Thong Tong Daeng. Local residents have raised concerns that the dams may be substandard or improperly designed, noting the absence of foundation posts or reinforced concrete, and pointing out that all collapsed dams were built by the same contractor responsible for previous failures in other locations. The Phichit Anti-Corruption Commission inspected the site and found the project cost 1,487,000 baht with no project identification signage. When contacted, the contractor acknowledged the contract was won through electronic auction and that construction followed the designs provided by the Administrative Organization, attributing the collapse to the design's lack of foundation posts and the concrete's inability to withstand water pressure. The dam has not yet been handed over to the Phichit Administrative Organization.
