Accident Construction Worker Trapped After Falling Into Deep Pit at Bangkok Subway Site

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures from responders.

 

Emergency rescue teams rushed to a construction site near Lan Luang Soi 8 in Bangkok’s Pom Prap Sattru Phai district early afternoon on 19 May, after a worker fell into a deep pit and was reportedly buried under collapsing soil.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 13:15, according to a report from the Phukhao Thong Fire and Rescue Station. Initial alerts stated that a member of the public had fallen into a hole near an ongoing road and subway construction site close to Lan Luang Soi 8 on Lan Luang Road, Khlong Maha Nak sub-district. The pit was estimated to be around 15 to 19 metres deep.

By 13:25, rescue personnel had arrived on the scene and confirmed that the victim was a construction worker employed on the new underground railway project. It is believed the worker fell into the excavation pit as the soil collapsed and was subsequently buried under a sudden falling soil. Rescue teams are continuing operations at the site in an effort to locate and retrieve the missing individual.

 

The Ruamkatanyu Foundation, an emergency response organisation, have deployed high-angle rescue specialists to support the ongoing rescue effort. At the time of this report, the identity of the missing worker had not yet been confirmed, and the exact depth to which the victim had fallen remained unclear due to the volume of soil that had filled the pit.

 

Authorities have cordoned off the area as the rescue operation continues.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-19.

 

 

 

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Construction Worker Plunges Into Borehole as Ground Collapses at Bangkok Subway Site

 

Pictures from responders.

 

A construction worker is feared seriously injured after falling into a deep borehole at a subway construction site in central Bangkok following a sudden ground collapse.

 

The victim, identified as Mr. Sarawut Chantasorn, 33, from Sisaket province, was working on pile-driving operations at the time of the incident. According to Mr. Thanawat, a colleague who witnessed the event, Mr. Sarawut had been standing at the edge of an old borehole, preparing to begin drilling a new shaft.

Without warning, the ground beneath Mr. Sarawut gave way, likely due to soil subsidence around the old excavation site. He lost his balance and plunged into the shaft, estimated to be about 19 metres deep.

 

Emergency teams, including police and rescue workers, are currently attempting to retrieve the trapped worker. The extent of Mr. Sarawut’s injuries is not yet known.

 

The site is part of an ongoing underground rail project aimed at expanding Bangkok’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) network.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-19.

 

 

 

 

[save the frogs]

construction is hard work.

sad to see these workplace accidents.

get him out of there and rescue him, guys.

 

[Georgealbert]

Thai media from the scene.

 

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Worker Trapped After Ground Collapse at Construction Site in Bangkok

 

Picture from responders.

 

Rescue operations are still underway, but as of 16:00 responders have still been unable to locate the missing worker.

 

The incident occurred while a group of seven to eight workers were on site. According to a co-worker, 41-year-old Mr Chat, the victim was tightening bolts to shut down machinery for the lunch break when the ground suddenly gave way beneath him, causing him to fall into the deep excavation.

 

The collapse was triggered by a soil slide, which has continued to hinder rescue efforts. In response, authorities have deployed a backhoe to reinforce the edges of the construction pit, attempting to prevent further landslides. To secure the area, steel sheet piles measuring 16 metres in length will be installed on all sides of the pit to stabilise the ground and prevent additional soil from sliding in.

 

One worker who in the initial stages, abseiled into the pit using a rope system, was able to descend around 10 metres. He attempted to clear some of the compacted soil to create breathing space for the trapped worker, but the sticky, clay-like nature of the earth made the task extremely difficult and limited the descent.

 

Mr Phet Phumma, Director of Pom Prap Sattru Phai District Office, acting as Incident Commander, said that rescue strategies will be adapted to the evolving situation. He confirmed plans to install steel sheet piles around the entire pit to prevent further collapse. He also acknowledged that the subsoil consists mainly of clay and sand, making the area highly susceptible to subsidence.

The rescue effort involves multiple agencies, including the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Service, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, USAR Thailand, and several volunteer and support networks. All teams are working to locate and rescue the missing worker.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now 2025-05-19.