Bangkok: Officials are employing a 52.6-ton crane in an ongoing search for a young worker who fell into a pile pit at the construction site of the Orange Line electric train, tasked with installing piles to prevent landslides. Despite efforts, the worker has not yet been rescued. His girlfriend has expressed her sadness and is hoping for a miracle.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident involves Mr. Sarawut, a 33-year-old worker who fell into a 19-meter deep hole during the demolition of piles along the original skywalk of Bangkok, within the construction area of Lan Luang Station of the Orange Line Project. This section stretches from Bang Khun Non to Thailand Cultural Center, located between Soi Lan Luang 6 and 8, Pom Prap Sattru Phai District. The latest measurements indicate the hole is 23 meters deep with dimensions of 2×4 meters.
The accident occurred when Mr. Sarawut was positioned on a steel plate at the mouth of the hole alongside a coworker, who was tightening bolts to secure the pile. A sudden landslide, exacerbated by rain, pulled Mr. Sarawut into the pit. His coworker immediately contacted authorities for assistance.
Initial rescue attempts by the Royal Project Traffic Police, involving descending into the hole with a sling and manually excavating clay soil to create an air gap, proved unsuccessful. Subsequent efforts involved using a backhoe to expand the area around the hole’s mouth and employing plywood to stabilize the soil, though these measures also failed to prevent further sliding.
Four hours post-incident, the USAR rescue unit from the Bangkok Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, alongside Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers and Nang Loeng Police Station, convened to strategize rescue operations. They deployed an orange equipment box into the pit, utilized a backhoe to position rectangular steel plates and bars to stabilize the soil, and employed a 3D laser simulation device to aid in the search.
A large crane with a 52.6-ton capacity and a 12.29-meter arm was brought in to clamp and press piles around the pit’s perimeter to avert further landslides, as engineering experts have determined the landslide significantly impacts the structural integrity of nearby buildings and electric poles.
Ms. Wanthanee Wattana, Permanent Secretary of Bangkok, visited the site at 8:00 p.m. to assess the rescue progress and offer support to the working officers.
Mr. Sarawut’s girlfriend, located in Sisaket Province, has been informed of the incident. She expressed feelings of disheartenment and recounted a series of ominous events preceding the accident, including a power outage and the call of a crow. The couple had been planning to marry within the next few years, and she remains hopeful for a positive outcome.