At least five dead after road collapses during construction

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An under-construction road has collapsed in Bangkok, killing at least five people, officials have said.

The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday morning in the southwest of the Thai capital.

Another 24 people were injured at the construction site, transport minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said.

No road users were affected, as nearby traffic lanes were closed at the time.

He added that the dead were four workers and an engineer.

Mr Jungrungreangkit also offered his condolences and said the victims would be compensated by contractors and relevant agencies.

Bangkok police chief Siam Boonsom said an investigation into the cause of the collapse was ongoing, and authorities would take legal action against those responsible.

The construction of the three-mile (5km) elevated road began in 2022, according to information on the Expressway Authority of Thailand website.

Surachet Laophulsuk, governor of the agency, said it was now working to clear the debris as quickly as possible, but warned it might take as long as a week.

The contractors working on the project have been suspended for 14 days pending the investigation.

The site of the collapse was part of a major road linking Bangkok to Thailand's south.

However, the wider project has been a subject of controversy over its prolonged construction and frequent fatal accidents.

Mr Jungrungreangkit said the transport ministry was trying to issue new regulations that would suspend contractors found liable of such accidents, and blacklist them from future government projects.

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