Bangkok seals off century-old shophouses after fatal canopy collapse
Bangkok officials have sealed off a row of century-old shophouses near Wat Traimit after a concrete canopy collapsed on Rama IV Road, killing a 67-year-old man and damaging several vehicles.
- A concrete canopy collapsed from a century-old shophouse in Bangkok, killing a 67-year-old man.
- The site of the collapse on Rama IV Road has been cordoned off with steel barriers to prevent further danger.
- Authorities are waiting for a detailed inspection of the building's structural integrity before any further demolition proceeds.
Officials cordoned off the area around a row of five century-old shophouses near Wat Traimit Witthayaram Worawihan in Bangkok on Sunday (June 21), a day after a concrete canopy collapsed, killing a 67-year-old man and damaging several vehicles.
The accident occurred on Rama IV Road in Talat Noi subdistrict, Samphanthawong district, on Saturday evening (June 20). A large concrete canopy fell from the second floor of the building and struck the victim, identified as Prawit, 67.
After the collapse, rescue workers and relevant agencies moved quickly to clear the site, where chunks of concrete and structural debris were scattered across the area. Officials also cut the power supply and dealt with electricity poles near the scene.
The operation continued through the night before the debris was cleared at around 5am on Sunday.
Steel barriers have since been installed around the building to prevent further danger and keep pedestrians and road users away from the cordoned-off area.
Parts of the collapsed canopy remain at ground-floor level, but no further demolition has yet taken place. Authorities are waiting for relevant agencies to carry out a detailed inspection of the building’s structural integrity before any additional work proceeds.
Traffic on Rama IV Road has now largely returned to normal, except for the area directly in front of the accident site, where lanes have been narrowed to two.
Witness recalls building creaking before collapse
Dusit, 57, a witness to the incident, recalled that he was sitting in front of a shrine when he suddenly heard a loud creaking sound coming from the building. Moments later, the concrete canopy collapsed, prompting screams from people nearby.
“The deceased was someone I knew well. He was the son-in-law of an electrical supplies shop owner in the area and had come to pick up his father-in-law,” Dusit recounted.
He added that about three employees were still working in the area at the time. The victim’s wife and child were also at the scene and broke down after witnessing the incident.
After the collapse, good Samaritans and nearby residents rushed in to help. They tried to lift chunks of concrete and building debris off the victim, while others used hammers to break the concrete and create a path for rescuers.
However, they were unable to free him because a thick and heavy concrete slab was pinning him down. At first, only the victim’s legs could be seen protruding from the rubble.
Rescue workers later arrived and used metal-cutting equipment to remove sections of the debris before pulling the injured man out. He was given first aid and rushed to hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries.
Dusit noted that he had lived in the area since 2011 and did not know exactly when the building had been constructed or how long it had been in use. However, he believed the structure was at least 100 years old and suspected that ageing materials or structural deterioration may have contributed to the collapse.
He added that it was fortunate the area beneath the building still had some support beams in place. Without them, he believed the number of injuries or fatalities could have been higher.
