Bangsaen Beach restaurant platform collapses, injures three

In the coastal town of Bangsaen, Chon Buri, a sea-viewing concrete platform under construction at a restaurant suffered a structural failure, injuring three workers on Tuesday.

The platform, located on Soi 18 in the Saen Suk Municipality, Saen Suk subdistrict, Mueang district, was intended to extend over the serene waters of the Bangsaen Sea, providing a panoramic view for the restaurant’s patrons. However, around 6pm, the beams of the platform buckled, causing a sudden collapse.

Among the injured were two women and a man, all part of the workforce engaged in the construction of the platform. Following the incident, they were promptly transported to the Burapha University Hospital for immediate medical attention.

One of the female workers, 21 year old Kamonchanok Somboon, found herself trapped under the debris for a brief period before she was rescued by her fellow workers, residents, and the quick response team from the Tri Khun Tham Foundation. Kamonchanok sustained injuries to her leg and suffered a cut.

In the wake of this event, an investigation was initiated by the local police to determine the cause of the collapse. Preliminary findings suggest that the platform’s beams might have been subjected to excessive load or that the structure’s supports were insufficient, resulting in the unfortunate incident.

In response to the incident, the construction site has been temporarily shut down pending the completion of the ongoing investigation, reported Pattaya News.

Meanwhile, social media users have raised questions about the legality of the platform’s construction over the beach. They called for a thorough investigation by the relevant authorities, considering that all beaches in Thailand are public property. There were concerns that the construction could be an encroachment on public land.

In related news, Thai authorities swiftly ordered the demolition of an unauthorised concrete platform that appeared on the pristine White Sand Beach on Koh Chang after residents filed complaints. The discovery of the construction, which encroached into the sea in front of Koh Chang Grand View Hotel, led to a multi-agency investigation, revealing the absence of a permit for such a structure.