Bangkok: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) convened a critical meeting at the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center to address a serious building collapse incident tied to a subway tunnel leak. The meeting, chaired by Ms. Kanokwan Eiamlim, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the BMA, underscored the necessity of public safety as contractors work to pump out water at a rate of 50 cubic meters per hour and experts recommend the installation of additional sensors to monitor building movement.
According to Thai News Agency, the meeting included reports from contractors detailing the ongoing efforts to control the water level in the tunnel, ensuring soil stability and the integrity of surrounding structures. Engineering experts have approved the current strategy of not fully draining the tunnel, while monitoring for potential sand movement continues with supplemental data collection. The BMA's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation is actively engaged in monitoring and ensuring safety by installing equipment to track any unusual building movement, which has not been detected since the equipment's deployment.
The surveyed area revealed a building affected by the tunnel leak spans approximately 50 meters. Evacuations have been ordered from three buildings: a dental clinic, the D-House building, and the Thaveechai 5 gold shop building. With 166 people affected, 72 have already relocated, while 84 await alternative accommodations from the contractor. Meanwhile, the BMA has set up a temporary shelter at Wat Phichayataikaram Worawihan, which can accommodate up to 150 people and is expected to remain operational for a week.
Officials in Khlong San district identified three buildings within the monitoring radius, urging evacuations due to safety concerns. The Thonburi District Office's assessment indicates a 14-meter radius around the main incident site, impacting nine buildings and approximately 50 residents, including vulnerable individuals. Plans are being made to coordinate with animal shelters and offer alternative accommodations if residents choose to relocate voluntarily, as the monitored area affects only parts of the buildings' fronts.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary emphasized the critical importance of ensuring resident safety and managing traffic around the affected area. Contractors and engineering experts have been tasked to rigorously monitor building movement and implement necessary measures to mitigate public impact.
Dr. Thanes Weerasiri, advisor to the Engineering Institute of Thailand, announced that academic staff from Kasetsart University would install additional tilt sensors this evening on an unused six-story former bank building. These sensors aim to enhance the monitoring and surveillance of the building's movement, thereby improving the efficiency of safety measures.