Rama IV road remained partially closed to traffic in Bangkok's Samphanthawong district on Sunday, even though the debris was cleared away after an old concrete building canopy collapsed, killing an elderly man, on Saturday.
The Samphanthawong district office said on Sunday morning that workers finished clearing the street about 4.30am and the area was reopened at 5am on Sunday.
Two lanes of Rama IV Road in front of the old building where the second-floor canopy fell remained closed pending a thorough examination of the building. The Samphanthawong district office recommended motorists should avoid the area.
Metropolitan police said the road closure affected Yaowarat (Chinatown)-bound Rama IV Road between Charoen Sawat bridge and Mor Mee intersection. Motorists were advised to take a detour, using Tri Mit, Maha Phruettharam or another road parallel to Klong Phadung Krung Kasem canal.
The canopy collapsed on Saturday evening. An elderly man was crushed to death. Another person was injured.
Eyewitness Dusit, 57, said he was sitting at a nearby shrine and knew the victim, Prawit, the 67-year-old proprietor of a local electrical appliance store. Prawit had left the shop to greet his father-in-law and was crushed by the falling canopy, which collapsed without any warning.
Prof Amorn Pimanmas, president of the Thailand Structural Engineers Association, wrote on Facebook that the building had been built nearly a century ago and its construction was not as durable as modern materials.
He inspected the collapse scene and found that the canopy had been anchored to only some points of the support pillars and beams of the old building. Because it was near the roof of the building there was no floor to strengthen the canopy connection.
He said the steel used for the connection had a smooth surface and relatively less grip and had deteriorated over time, eroded by humidity and rain.
The building and adjoining premises were also closed off pending strucural examination.
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