"Je Seth" rushed to inspect the leaking MRT tunnel, ordered preparation of rescue teams and heavy equipment, with civil engineering experts assessing and assuring control over the situation. Tags: [MRT tunnel, water leakage, rescue teams, civil engineering, infrastructure safety]
On 10 July 2026, Mr. Je Seth Tai Seth, Deputy Minister of the Interior (Interior Minister 3), arrived at Don Mueang Air Force Base after completing duties accompanying Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on a visit to Malaysia. Instead of returning home, Je Seth immediately went to Wongwian Yai intersection in Bangkok to closely monitor the situation and receive briefings on the water leakage incident at the MRT construction tunnel. Tags: [Je Seth Tai Seth, Interior Ministry, MRT tunnel, Wongwian Yai, Bangkok]
Later, Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Deputy Minister of Transport, and Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, joined the site visit to receive briefings from relevant agencies. These included Mr. Pongnara Yenying, Director-General of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning; Mr. Theerapat Kachamat, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM); Ms. Suwara Twichasri, Governor of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA); and executives from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The collaboration aimed to integrate solutions in engineering, rescue operations, and traffic management. Tags: [Deputy Transport Minister, Bangkok Governor, MRTA, DDPM, MWA, interagency coordination]
According to the latest update, MRTA and contractors are intensively sealing and controlling leak points continuously, with engineering teams closely monitoring the situation. They have observed a continual decrease in the rate of ground subsidence. Authorities are preparing to move a large crane to temporarily relocate the pedestrian overpass near the worksite to expand space for heavy machinery operations, with completion expected by 2:00 a.m. tonight. The expanded perimeter control area complies with engineering safety standards and does not indicate increased severity of the situation. Tags: [MRTA, leak repair, ground subsidence, pedestrian bridge relocation, safety standards]
“Although I was on duty in Malaysia, I tracked the situation and immediately directed relevant agencies once the report was received, because public safety cannot wait. Upon landing in Thailand, I rushed straight to the site to personally give instructions and encourage the workers,” said Mr. Je Seth. Tags: [Je Seth, public safety, crisis management, site visit]
Mr. Je Seth further revealed that he ordered the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to prepare the Urban Search and Rescue team (USAR Thailand), along with rescue vehicles, heavy rescue equipment, and high-capacity water pumps to support the site immediately. He also assigned the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning to coordinate with Assistant Professor Dr. Thanet Weerasiri, a civil engineering expert, to analyze the structure scientifically. Additionally, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority is preparing the water system to support MRTA’s engineering pressure tests to check leakage paths into the cement pipes. The evaluation results are expected by the evening of 11 July 2026 to facilitate unified problem-solving and minimize the impact on the public. Tags: [USAR Thailand, disaster preparedness, civil engineering expert, waterworks, engineering tests, public impact]