AYUTTHAYA - Five people, including two children, were killed and 45 injured when a bridge collapsed in Tha Rua district Sunday.
Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill
A supporting cable snapped as a large number of motorcycles overloaded the bridge over the Pasak River about 5pm in tambon Tha Luang, district chief Withit Pinnikorn said. The bridge is open only to motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians.
Pedestrians, motorcyclists and bike riders dropped into the river and on to the ground below.
- Earlier report: With photos
Debris from the collapsed concrete surface and steel structure of the bridge, as well as one of two pairs of concrete beams, also plummeted to the ground, crushing to death five people and injuring at least 45 others, seven of them critically.
The dead were identified as Natthawut Jaitrong, 24, Samat Yanpanya, 33, Kesinee Chabasri, 54, Suwanan Phuangthong, 14, and Piriyaporn Suasaming, 10.
Emergency workers and volunteers raced against time to pull people from the rubble.
The 4m-wide bridge, which sat 20 metres above the river, was repaired last year at a cost of eight million baht after the major floods in 2011.
The suspension bridge came down right over the river, dumping many into the water, but trapping others (right) under concrete slabs. (Photos by Sunthorn Pongpao)