Results of probe into bridge due in four days
Play
It will take at least four more days to determine the cause of the April 29 collapse of a suspension bridge in Ayutthaya's Tha Rua district, which killed at least four people, local officials said.
Wirapat Onsuratum, chief of Ayutthaya’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, said yesterday that a team had inspected the structure of the bridge, which linked Moo 5 and Moo 6 of Tambon Tha Luang across the Pasak River.
“It will take four or five days to conclude the cause of the accident,” he said.
The suspension bridge was constructed by TMI Drill and Construction Co Ltd. Company representative Somchai Santi-pinyolert told police yesterday that the bridge was built according to an approved design.
“The bridge passed all engineering tests. A panel appointed by Tambon Tha Luang Municipality examined the work done [on the bridge] and approved it,” Somchai said.
In a related development, a team from the Engineering Institute of Thailand checked another suspension bridge across the Pasak River after it showed signs of deterioration.
“The cables on the two sides of the bridge are not balanced. There is a difference of some 10 per cent,” the team said. Tambon Tha Luang Municipality has closed the bridge pending the full results of the inspection, which are due in one month.
