Sinkhole swallows bus

PHUKET: The back of a bus was swallowed by a sinkhole that opened up beneath the vehicle in Thalang district on Saturday afternoon after several hours of torrential rain.

Baan Kluay Road in Srisoonthon sub district has been closed off until the bus can be removed and the hole in the road filled in.

Srisoonthorn Mayor Worrawut Songyot said the municipality is looking for a construction company to fix the road.

“Heavy rain washed away the soil underneath the road. We’ve closed off the road for now and installed a sign and flashing lights to let motorists know of the danger,” said Mr Worrawut.

In December 2014, a 7-year-old girl named Molly Anne Bailey died after being critically injured when the pick-up truck she was travelling in plunged into a sinkhole crater that cut across a rural road in the same area. Ms Bailey’s parents decided to take her off of life-support, after doctors said she had no chance of recovering (story here).

“Do not use the route until this is fixed,” Mr Worrawut said. “We do not not want any more accidents. We hope to find a construction company quickly so that we can reopen the road as soon as possible.”