Bangkok: The Prime Minister visited Samsen in the middle of the night to monitor road repairs. Prime Minister Anutin Charnweekul, accompanied by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Orasith Samphantharat, conducted a late-night visit to oversee the progress of repairs to the Samsen Road surface. The visit, which also included Police Lieutenant General Sayam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, and officials from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, aimed to ensure the safety and swift restoration of the area affected by a large sinkhole.
According to Thai News Agency, during the inspection, Prime Minister Anutin received updates from the construction company responsible for the repairs. The Prime Minister disclosed that efforts are being made to stabilize the situation by pouring hundreds of cubic meters of concrete to seal leaks and prevent landslides. This crucial step is expected to allow the road surface to be restored within two weeks, ensuring safe passage for commuters.
Mr. Anutin emphasized the importance of public safety, urging immediate action to address any risks, no matter how minor. The incident, fortunately, resulted in no injuries or fatalities, but the Prime Minister warned against complacency, stressing the need for vigilance and preparedness in future incidents.
The Samsen Police Station area, although affected, remains structurally sound due to a retaining wall. Mr. Anutin praised Mr. Suchatvee Suwansawat, engineer and former president of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, for highlighting potential dangers outside the retaining wall. The restoration process involves filling approximately 15,000 cubic meters of soil or gravel to reclaim the area and pave the road surface. Contractors are working tirelessly to reopen the road to traffic as soon as possible.
The project manager assured that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the traffic surface restoration would be completed within two weeks. Mr. Anutin also addressed weather-related concerns, explaining that the decision to use concrete instead of sand was made to mitigate the risk of further landslides, even in adverse weather conditions.