Structural Engineers Association Chair Advises Investigation into Soil Movement Following Charoen Sanit Road Collapse
A road collapse on Charoen Sanit Road near Fai Chao intersection is likely caused by soil loss beneath the roadbed, with engineers recommending investigation into underground utilities and soil movement that has triggered similar incidents
The Structural Engineers Association chair has advised investigation into soil movement concerning the Charoen Sanit Road collapse, revealing such incidents have occurred previously in 2021 and 2023. May 9, 2026 – Prof. Dr. Amorn Pimanmak, president of Thailand's Structural Engineers Association, commented on the road collapse on Charoen Sanit Road at Vijai Hospital near the Fai Chao intersection. Prof. Dr. Amorn disclosed that the Charoen Sanit Road collapse has happened multiple times in 2021 and 2023. Analyzing photographs from today's incident, the collapse appears as a single-lane subsidence with the road fractured in a V-shape, not damage to the road surface itself but rather loss of supporting soil beneath the roadbed. Regarding possible causes, the following have been identified: 1. Underground utility pipes or vaults in the area, such as electrical conduit chambers, may have leaked at connection points where pipes meet vaults or at other locations, allowing soil to flow into these vaults; 2. Combined with potential rainfall during this period making soil saturated, it may flow more easily than usual; 3. Possible nearby construction activity with excavation or exposed soil that could allow soil movement; 4. Broken water or drainage pipes that allow water to carry soil away. All of these remain speculative, and relevant authorities will need to conduct on-site inspections of underground utilities in the affected area to determine the actual cause. However, this collapse appears less severe than the Vajira Hospital road collapse, as that incident was located near underground train construction, though monitoring is advisable to check for further expansion. Relevant authorities should investigate soil movement, particularly during the rainy season when saturated soil flows more easily, using scanning equipment to check underground pits or vaults at regular intervals, as even small holes could pose hazards to drivers.
