Former deputy Bangkok governor Samart Ratchapolsitte has criticised authorities for failing to provide a clear explanation on what caused the collapse of a section of Samsen Road, despite it being over a month since the incident.
Mr Samart on Monday posted on Facebook, asking why there has still been no official statement or technical report explaining the cause of the sinkhole in the heart of the capital since it occurred on Sept 24.
According to him, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), which oversees the underground electric train project in the area, initially suggested that the collapse might have been caused by soil and groundwater conditions that altered the soil’s structure.
Mr Samart described the explanation as vague and unsupported by engineering data or soil analysis. He warned that such general statements could lead the public to view the collapse as an “unavoidable accident”, allowing those responsible to evade accountability.
He raised three more questions for the MRTA. First, he asked whether jet grouting — a soil-strengthening and waterproofing technique — had been conducted correctly in the area. Second, he questioned whether nearby buildings have been inspected for structural risks. Third, he asked whether other underground railway stations were constructed safely.