SRI RACHA, THAILAND – A ruptured water main devastated a tyre workshop in Sri Racha district, damaged several vehicles and tore a deep crater into a major road on 2 March, with losses estimated at more than 500,000 baht and the water utility pledging full compensation.
Massive explosion on main highway
The explosion occurred around 10 a.m. at the Thana Yan Yon tyre workshop on the busy Highway 331 (Indochina Road) towards Laem Chabang, near the entrance to Soi Laem Chabang–Mab Yang Soi 34, Yai Yen 2.
According to authorities, an underground raw-water transmission pipe with a diameter of 1.2 metres ruptured directly in front of the business, sending water gushing through the road surface under extreme pressure.
Officials and emergency teams at the scene
Local administrators led by Phiphatphon Amphonphet, deputy district chief of Sri Racha, and Priyakamon Chanchai, head of Nong Kham subdistrict, rushed to the scene after the first reports.
They surveyed the situation, coordinated the securing of the accident site and began documenting damage to the workshop, vehicles and the road surface.
Water jets sweep away vehicles and tools
Witnesses described a deafening blast as the water shot up from underground at high pressure, sweeping away tools, equipment and vehicles and flooding the surrounding area.
A motorcycle was reportedly carried more than 100 meters by the surge, and several vehicles suffered heavy damage, including a Toyota Fortuner, a white Isuzu pickup truck and a ten-wheel lorry whose left rear wheel sank into the newly formed hole.
Deep crater and half-hour water flow
The force of the rupture lifted large sections of the roadway and left a crater about five meters deep and five meters wide directly in front of the workshop.
The massive outflow of water only stopped after technicians from the water supplier closed the main valve upstream of the damaged section, roughly 30 minutes after the break.
Workshop owner recounts narrow escape
The owner, Thana, said he had been working just a few meters from the blast site on the tyres of a customer’s vehicle when he heard a loud bang and at first thought a tyre had burst.
He ran inside the workshop to secure documents and valuables when a second, even stronger explosion followed, causing the ceiling to collapse, bending the rolling door and allowing the water to sweep away all tools, machines and nearby parked vehicles, while he suffered minor injuries as he fled.
Utility probes cause and promises compensation
Chaiyarat Wongphayom, customer relations officer at the East Water Company, said initial investigations pointed to an unusual rise in pressure in the raw-water pipeline, which overloaded valves and fittings and ultimately caused the line to burst.
“The company is investigating the exact cause of the failure of the 1.2‑meter transmission line, but has already committed to fully covering all damages suffered by the affected workshop.”
said Chaiyarat Wongphayom, customer relations officer at East Water Company.
Investigations and traffic disruptions
Local authorities documented the accident site in detail, questioned witnesses and advised the victim to formally record his claims by filing a report at Nong Kham Police Station.
The dramatic scene of a flooded roadway and debris caused significant traffic disruptions in the area while cleanup and safety work was under way.