BuildingCollapse StructuralSafety AgeingBuildings UrbanSafety BuildingInspection

One killed after old Bangkok building partially collapses raising concerns once more over ageing shophouses

Jun, 20, 2026
Structural Failures Damage (Structural) Structural Control News On Natural Disasters / Failures
Thailand, Bangkok
Authored by: TheCivilEngineer.org

Collapsed concrete awning and debris from an ageing Bangkok shophouse, showing damage to parked vehicles and the immediate public safety risk from deteriorated external building elements. Source: Khaosod English

A partial collapse at an old building near Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan in Bangkok has killed one man and damaged several vehicles. The incident occurred on June 20 along Charoen Krung Road and Rama IV Road in the Samphanthawong district, an area known for older shophouse buildings and dense urban activity.

Emergency officials reported that a large concrete slab or awning element fell from the second floor of the building, striking a man below. Local reports later identified the victim as a 76-year-old man who had arrived at the building shortly before the collapse. Rescue workers removed debris from the scene and authorities sealed off the area while safety checks were carried out.

Several vehicles parked nearby were also damaged. Officials temporarily closed the affected building and four neighbouring buildings for detailed structural inspection. Initial assessments suggested that the failure was limited to the awning area and had not compromised the main structural integrity of the building, although further investigation is required to confirm the cause.

Emergency crews inspect the damaged upper façade and utility lines after the partial collapse near Wat Traimit, as authorities assess the condition of the remaining structure. Source: Khaosod English

The building involved in the incident was reported to be around 100 years old. Local residents said that many buildings in the neighbourhood are of similar age and that some have not undergone major inspections or renovations for many years. Witnesses also reported that small fragments of brick and plaster had fallen from the structure before the fatal collapse.

This type of failure is a serious public safety concern because it can occur without a full building collapse. Older façades, balconies, awnings, parapets and projecting slabs may deteriorate gradually due to moisture ingress, corrosion of reinforcement, concrete cracking, vibration, poor drainage or lack of maintenance. When these elements are positioned above pavements, roads or shopfronts, even a local failure can be fatal.

The risk is not limited to the main structural frame. Secondary and external elements often receive less attention than columns, beams and foundations, yet they are directly exposed to weathering and may fail suddenly if reinforcement corrodes or anchorage weakens.

The Bangkok incident highlights the need for systematic inspection of ageing urban buildings, especially in dense historic districts where old shophouses remain in daily use. Visual signs such as cracking, spalling concrete, exposed steel reinforcement, water staining, sagging slabs and falling plaster should not be treated as minor defects.

A proper safety assessment should review both the main load-bearing system and all external elements that could fall onto public areas. Where risk is identified, authorities and owners should implement temporary exclusion zones, immediate propping or removal of unstable elements, followed by repair or strengthening.

The tragedy near Wat Traimit shows how ageing infrastructure can create sudden hazards in busy city environments. Preventing similar incidents requires regular inspections, clear responsibility for building maintenance and enforcement action when deteriorated structures pose a risk to pedestrians, residents and road users.

Sources: nationthailand.com, straitstimes.com, thethaiger.com, khaosodenglish.com