Construction Accidents in Thailand: A Pattern of Negligence and Lack of Accountability
Large-scale construction sites in Thailand have become increasingly prone to accidents, often occurring without public awareness or long-term consequences. These incidents frequently disappear from the news cycle, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and no clear accountability for those responsible.
A recent example is the massive sinkhole that opened on September 24 at the Samsen underground train station construction site, part of the southern extension of the Purple Line. The sinkhole measured 30 meters by 30 meters and reached a depth of 50 meters. Located between Vajira Hospital and Samsen Police Station, this incident highlights the risks associated with ongoing infrastructure projects in Bangkok. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported, but it serves as a reminder of the precarious situation faced by Thais due to the rapid pace of development.
Despite the fact that the structural work at the site was already 70% complete, such incidents continue to occur. What makes these events even more concerning is the lack of transparency surrounding their causes. In most cases, there is no detailed explanation provided by project owners, government agencies, or officials overseeing the work. Public clarification about what led to the accident or who should be held accountable is rare.
Typically, when an accident occurs, compensation is offered, and a probe panel is formed. However, as time passes, these investigations tend to fade into obscurity without any transparent reporting of the outcomes. This pattern raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of current safety protocols and the willingness of authorities to address systemic issues.
High-Risk Zones: A History of Tragedies
Over the past few years, several major construction accidents have made headlines, particularly in areas like Rama II Road. This road, which has been under construction for over 20 years, handles around 250,000 vehicles daily and is managed by the Department of Highways and the Expressway Authority of Thailand.
In 2021, a laborer from Italian-Thai Development Plc fell from an elevated expressway beam, resulting in his death. In July 2022, a 5-tonne concrete slab collapsed onto several vehicles, killing two people and injuring two others. In August 2022, a large volume of water stored on a tarpaulin fell onto a worker, causing one fatality. In January 2024, a crane cable snapped at a height of 15 meters, leading to one death and one injury.
More recently, on November 29 last year, a bridge beam collapsed at kilometre 21 outbound on Rama II Road in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district, killing six people and injuring nine. These incidents underscore the urgent need for improved safety measures and stricter oversight.
Corruption and Systemic Flaws
Mana Nimitmongkol, president of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT), has raised concerns about the prevalence of corruption in state projects. He pointed out that numerous incidents have raised suspicions of collusion and unethical practices, from small-scale contracts to large infrastructure developments.
One high-profile case involved Kamnan Nok (Praween Janklai), who was arrested in late 2023 for allegedly being involved in the contract killing of a police officer. Investigations revealed that he had won bids for over 200 government projects annually, raising questions about how a single entity could manage such a workload unless the projects were won through improper means.
Another example is the national sports stadium project, which consists of 31 sites and has experienced repeated delays. The project is jointly overseen by the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Department of Physical Education, with work assigned to the Department of Highways. Similarly, the Rama II Road project has faced chronic delays and multiple construction-related accidents.
The collapse of a building under construction for the Office of the Auditor General also sparked widespread suspicion about the integrity of the construction process.
Krungsri Bank reported that public projects in 2024 amounted to 780 billion baht, while an estimate by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce suggested that up to 200 billion baht may have been lost to corruption. Mana emphasized that construction projects in Thailand have long been plagued by systemic flaws and conflicts of interest.
Calls for Transparency and Reform
“Overall, the direction of state spending, the budgeting process, procurement procedures, and value-for-money evaluations remain highly limited in their effectiveness,” Mana said. “What urgently needs reform is the public procurement system.”
He called for broader rules to encourage greater private sector participation, foster open competition, and allow the government to select contractors based on capability and performance rather than simply on the lowest price. Additionally, he stressed the importance of disclosing project information more transparently to enable increased public participation.
Prof Amorn Pimanmas, president of the Thailand Structural Engineers Association, echoed similar concerns, identifying three primary causes of systemic corruption in projects: subcontracting practices where main contractors delegate work to subcontractors without proper oversight, weak supervision involving unqualified personnel, and the forgery of engineers’ signatures.
He called for new measures to prevent such malpractice, starting with reform of subcontracting laws. This would involve creating a registry of qualified and accountable subcontractors.
