Through the Lens: Massive sinkhole in Bangkok

Just outside a police station and Vajira Hospital, in a residential district of Bangkok, a roughly 50-meter-deep sinkhole appeared, pulling down power lines and bursting a water main. The collapse was likely caused by a leaky pipe that caused the ground under a road to subside. No casualties have been confirmed, but nearby roads have been closed and many residents were evacuated.

A massive sinkhole opens on Samsen Road near Vajira Hospital, in Bangkok on Sept. 24 (Photo by Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters)

A car is stuck in a massive sinkhole that opened on Samsen Road near Vajira Hospital, in Bangkok, while another vehicle sits on the edge of a damaged road on Sept. 24. (Photo by Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters)

Nearby residents receive water after an outage caused by a road collapse in Bangkok on Sept. 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

A resident stands outside her home as neighbors receive water after a road collapse disrupted supply in Bangkok on Sept. 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

A nearby resident receives water after an outage caused by a road collapse in Bangkok on Sept. 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

Workers inspect power lines near a collapsed road in Bangkok on Sept. 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

Workers inspect a sinkhole and the surrounding area after a road collapse in Bangkok on Sept. 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

Workers look at the damage from a sinkhole and road collapse in Bangkok on Sept. 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

A pickup truck teetering on the edge of a massive sinkhole that opened on Samsen Road near Vajira Hospital, in Bangkok, is lifted to safety on Sept. 24. (Photo by Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters)

A sinkhole is seen from above on Samsen Road near Vajira Hospital in Bangkok on Sept. 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)