“Anutin” revealed the Rama 2 sinkhole was caused by a broken water pipe, not structural failure. He affirmed the government used administrative orders to halt construction. Regarding the crane collapses at Sikhiu and Rama 2, he said orders have already been issued, warning that anyone neglecting them will face charges under Section 157.
On 17 Jan 2026 at 10:00 a.m., at the Tha Sae Municipal Market area in Chumphon Province, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul spoke about the morning incident (17 Jan) where the inbound lane of Rama 2 Road sank, causing a pickup truck to fall into a hole. He said the collapse occurred within the municipal boundary due to a broken water pipe with excessive water volume. The municipality must urgently fix it. It is unrelated to design or construction errors but stems from worker negligence, and damages must be compensated. When asked about public concern over repeated issues on Rama 2 Road reducing confidence in the route, Anutin said the real worry is structural integrity. The problem did not arise from concrete structures but from lifting methods that could have prevented it but were not implemented. He added that when incidents repeat, pursuing civil contracts alone is ineffective. Therefore, the government has resorted to administrative orders to stop construction or cancel contracts as a legal measure.
“Otherwise, it becomes a situation where if I say it’s up to the agencies, people complain why I don’t pressure them. If I pressure them, people ask why I pressure those who are not at fault. If I use administrative force, people ask why I don’t follow contractual measures. You cannot please everyone. Some want to politicize this issue, but it’s not political—it’s an engineering matter. That’s fine; the government has already ordered the use of administrative power. Those who receive the order must comply. The Prime Minister does not have the authority to cancel contracts by himself. The government has issued the directive. Anyone who fails to comply, if a civil servant, will face Section 157,” the Prime Minister said. When asked if the Ministry of Transport has reported progress on the contracts, Anutin replied that they must follow established procedures.