Five workers were killed and several others injured when part of a crane boom broke off and fell to the ground at a construction site on Rama III Road in Bangkok yesterday afternoon.
The accident occurred at the site of the Lumpini Park Riverside Condominium project in Soi 45 off Rama III Road in Yannawa district about 1pm. The top section of the 85-metre crane suddenly broke off and dropped onto workers below.
Rescue workers rushed to the scene and reported four men -- Witoon Chaimee, 47, Silp Thessakul, 39, Thanachoke Borikut, 29 and Wicha Kawee-ai, 30 -- were confirmed killed at the scene, police said.
Five others -- Yodrak Tinamas, 25, Sawing Hansa, 41, Parunan Hansa, 30, Pairoj Roschum, 44, and Min Oo, a 39-year-old Myanmar national -- were injured and trapped on the fifth floor of the building under construction.
They were taken to a nearby hospital, police said.
Termsak Sripitak, who was left with broken legs, clinging to the top of the broken crane was later rescued and sent to hospital where he later died.
Opas Sripayak, CEO and managing director of LPN Development Plc, the project developer, said an initial probe found the crane was assembled and installed by workers from a sub-contractor and it broke off as it was being lifted to a higher position.
The company was willing to pay compensation to the families of the dead and injured workers, he said.
Deputy Bangkok governor Jakkapan Phiewngam said yesterday City Hall would sue those responsible for operating the crane as they failed to seek permission to install it.
The Yannawa district office has ordered work be halted, Mr Jakkapan said. Officials were due to inspect the scene today.
