Miami incident attributed to human error resulting in road beam collapse disaster
Rama III-Dao Khanong-Outer Ring Road Expressway Collapse: Human Error Identified as Primary Cause
Following an investigation led by the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT), it has been determined that human error during the construction process was the primary cause of the beam collapse on the Rama III–Dao Khanong–Outer Ring Road Expressway, which occurred on March 15, resulting in five deaths and 22 injuries.
The incident took place near the Dao Khanong toll plaza on the Contract 3 section of the expressway project, spanning five kilometers from Bangpakok 9 International Hospital to the toll plaza. The project is part of a larger expressway initiative, being carried out by a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and Vichitbhan Construction Co, valued at approximately 7.3 billion baht.
While the investigation revealed that the project's design and construction adhered to engineering standards, and there were no issues related to the quality of materials or ground subsidence, the collapse was attributed to human error during the construction phase, rather than any technical or structural flaw.
The findings of the investigation have been submitted to Exat Governor Surachet Laopoolsuk, who is expected to forward them to Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit by the end of this week or early next week. Documents will also be sent to the police for further investigation and legal proceedings.
However, Exat clarified that it cannot take legal action unless the contractor abandons the project, under current laws. However, once Exat's contractor performance tracking system is introduced, such incidents will be recorded in a logbook that may influence future project eligibility.
A new committee will be established to assess financial losses and determine compensation. The loss of toll revenue due to the closure of the inbound lanes for nearly a week and the outbound lanes for almost a month is expected to amount to roughly one million baht per day. The committee, including financial and legal experts, will complete its evaluation within two weeks.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, a motorist travelling into Bangkok on Rama II Road reported that chunks of concrete fell onto their vehicle, cracking both the front and rear windscreens. The driver was unhurt.
This unfortunate event serves as a grim reminder of the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols and the need for enhanced oversight in construction projects to minimize the risk of human error, and paves the way for potential policy and regulatory changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
- In light of the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Outer Ring Road Expressway collapse, there is a need for a focus on policy and legislation, aiming to mitigate the risk of human error in construction projects.
- General news channels and politics debate the need for increased oversight in war-and-conflicts-affected regions, citing the recent rise in migration due to conflict zones and subsequent need for improved construction policies.
- The sports world reels from shock after a high-profile sports-betting scandal, which exposes flaws in the system and sparks calls for more stringent checks and balances to prevent crime and justice issues.
- Despite the ongoing investigation into the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Outer Ring Road Expressway collapse, analysts urge for cautious optimism about future large-scale construction projects, pointing to the potential dangers of car-accidents, fires, and other incidents.
- Amidst the swirl of policy discussions and investigations, the general public remains attentive to the landscape of accidents, crime, and sports, balancing their daily lives with the intricacies of politics, news, and the lingering fear of unprecedented disasters.
