BANGKOK, May 21 (TNA) – A 33-year-old Thai construction worker has died after falling into a 19-meter pit at a Bangkok subway construction site, with rescue teams still working to retrieve his body.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation confirmed the fatality following the incident on Monday on Lan Luang Road within the construction zone for the Orange Line’s Bang Khun Non-Thailand Cultural Centre section.
The worker, identified as Sarawut, fell into the pit, and subsequently, soil collapsed on top of him.
Rescue teams deployed drilling equipment and a bentonite solution to stabilize the pit and control water flow, believing Sarawut is trapped at a depth of approximately 16 meters where the soil becomes harder.
Officials attribute the initial cause to soil subsidence at a pile drilling point, exacerbated by a burst water pipe that caused flooding and Sarawut to slip.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit called the accident an unavoidable result of continuous rain and a subsequent landslide.
He has ordered a swift recovery of the body and emphasized enhanced safety measures for all construction projects, especially during the rainy season, urging contractors to learn from the incident and prevent future occurrences.
Consultants and contractors have also been instructed to fully support and compensate the victim’s family. -819 (TNA)
