Thailand Crew Works 16 Hours to Fix Road Sinkhole

A repair crew in Samut Sakhon, Thailand worked 16 hours straight to fix a sinkhole that opened up on a busy road, showing how quick action can prevent small disasters from becoming big ones.

The drama started early Saturday morning when a major water pipe burst beneath Rama II Road near Bangkok. Within moments, a massive hole opened in the pavement, and a pickup truck tumbled nose-first into the gap.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. But the hole threatened to create days of traffic chaos on one of the area's busiest routes.

That's when Weerayut Thongwatcharanon and his waterworks team sprang into action. Instead of following a typical repair schedule that could take days, they decided to work around the clock.

The crew labored through Saturday night without stopping, replacing the damaged pipe section and stabilizing the ground beneath the road. By Sunday morning, after more than 16 hours of continuous work, they had restored water service to the entire municipal area.

Highway workers then moved in to repair the road surface itself. The Samut Sakhon district highway office coordinated with Highway Police to fill the hole and ensure the repairs would last.

By Sunday afternoon, just over 24 hours after the sinkhole first appeared, one lane had already reopened to traffic. Officials promised full access would return by Monday midday.

The Bright Side

This story shows what happens when public workers prioritize community needs over convenience. The crew could have worked regular shifts and taken days to complete the repairs.

Instead, they chose to work through exhaustion to minimize disruption for thousands of daily commuters. Their dedication meant businesses stayed open, workers reached their jobs on time, and families avoided lengthy detours.

The quick response also prevented the kind of traffic gridlock that often stretches from the Tha Chin River bridge to the Talay Thai market area during delays.

When infrastructure fails, it's easy to focus on the problem, but this crew in Samut Sakhon reminds us that skilled, committed workers are fixing things every day.