A 500m section of the elevated overpass under construction collapsed onto the road below at around 6pm local time on Monday.

The segment, which is part of the 2.2km On Nut-Lat Krabang elevated road project, was being lifted by a crane when it overturned, sending the concrete and steel structure crashing down onto vehicles and commercial buildings. Electricity in the area was cut and only resumed by midnight.

The director of the Lat Krabang district office Chatchaya Kamjan said the first victim was killed instantly when the segment collapsed.

He said the second victim was found by the search and rescue team when they inspected the site.

“The injured were rushed to nearest hospitals for treatment,” he said.

The initial findings suggest that the crane may have been overstressed or that there was a malfunction with the lifting apparatus.

Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the collapsed segment and vehicles crushed underneath.