Bangkok, a city renowned for its bustling streets and vibrant life, was stunned this week by a dramatic incident that captured the world’s attention. On the morning of September 25, 2025, a massive sinkhole opened up in the heart of the Thai capital, swallowing an entire section of road and sending shockwaves through the local community and beyond. The event, which was documented in a striking photograph featured in The Week's best photos, left residents and onlookers reeling as cars scrambled to escape the rapidly expanding chasm.
According to The New Zealand Herald, the sinkhole appeared suddenly in the middle of a busy four-lane street in Bangkok. CCTV footage from the scene showed vehicles desperately trying to reverse away as the ground gave way beneath them. The hole grew with alarming speed, ultimately severing the entire roadway and leaving a gaping void where traffic had flowed just moments earlier. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as people fled on foot and cars narrowly avoided being swallowed by the earth.
“It was like something out of a disaster movie,” one local resident told The Week. “The ground just disappeared. People were shouting, and everyone was trying to get away as fast as they could.” The dramatic moment, caught on camera, quickly spread across social media, with viewers around the world expressing shock and concern for those affected.
Bangkok is no stranger to the challenges posed by its unique geography. Built on soft, waterlogged soil and crisscrossed by canals, the city has long battled flooding and subsidence. But incidents of this scale are rare even in a metropolis accustomed to natural hazards. Sinkholes can occur when underground water erodes the soil, creating hidden cavities that eventually collapse under the weight of surface structures. Heavy rains, leaking pipes, and ongoing construction can all contribute to these sudden and dangerous events.
As officials rushed to cordon off the area and assess the damage, questions quickly arose about the underlying causes of the collapse. Engineers and city planners began examining whether recent weather patterns, infrastructure issues, or other factors played a role. In the aftermath, traffic was diverted and emergency crews worked to secure the site, while experts warned that more sinkholes could appear if underlying problems are not addressed.
The incident was just one of many striking moments captured in The Week's latest roundup of the world’s most compelling photographs. Alongside the image of the Bangkok sinkhole, the publication showcased a diverse array of scenes from around the globe, each telling its own unique story of human resilience, joy, and adversity.
For example, in northern England, Stephen Purvis was photographed kissing his prize-winning onion after it claimed the title of Heaviest Onion at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show. In Belgium, men on stilts prepared to compete in the Golden Stilt tournament in Namur, a centuries-old tradition that draws crowds each year. Meanwhile, in the Philippines’ Tañon Strait, photographer Jade Hoksbergen captured the delicate beauty of a tiny candy crab perched on coral, a testament to the wonders of marine life.
Elsewhere, the world’s attention turned to scenes of celebration and athleticism. In Munich, Germany, performers leapt over one another during the lively Oktoberfest beer festival, while in Ouistreham, France, bike riders lined up for the start of the Normandy Beach Race. In Tokyo, US athlete Bryce Deadmon and Kenya’s George Mutinda waited to be passed the baton during the World Athletics Championships, embodying the spirit of international competition.
But not all of the week’s images were joyful. In Gaza, a group of Palestinians was photographed gazing out over the rubble of a bombed building, a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict and its devastating human toll. In Taiwan, residents were seen shoveling mud from their homes after Super Typhoon Ragasa caused a barrier lake to burst its banks, flooding communities and leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
Back in South America, Magellanic penguins in Uruguay waddled toward the ocean after being released from rehabilitation, offering a rare moment of hope and renewal in the face of environmental challenges. In Brazil, the Internacional soccer team celebrated a hard-fought goal in Porto Alegre, their jubilant expressions captured in a moment of pure sporting triumph.
Despite the wide range of subjects, a common thread runs through these images: the unpredictability of life and the resilience of those who face adversity head-on. The Bangkok sinkhole, in particular, serves as a powerful reminder of the forces that shape our cities and our lives. As urban populations grow and climate change intensifies, infrastructure challenges like sinkholes are likely to become more common in cities around the world.
Experts caution that while such incidents can seem sudden and inexplicable, they often result from years of underlying issues. In Bangkok’s case, the combination of rapid urban development, aging infrastructure, and environmental pressures creates a perfect storm for subsidence and collapse. Addressing these challenges will require coordinated efforts from government agencies, engineers, and local communities alike.
In the meantime, the city’s residents are left to pick up the pieces and adapt to the latest disruption. Traffic snarls and detours have become the new normal in the affected area, while businesses and homeowners anxiously await repairs and reassurance. For many, the incident has sparked a renewed conversation about urban safety and the need for greater investment in infrastructure maintenance and monitoring.
As the dust settles, the image of the gaping hole in Bangkok’s street stands as both a warning and a call to action. It’s a vivid illustration of the challenges facing modern cities—and a testament to the power of photography to capture the moments that define our shared experience. Whether it’s a prize-winning onion, a daring athletic feat, or a sudden act of nature, the world’s best photos remind us of the beauty, fragility, and resilience of life on this ever-changing planet.
With each new week, the stories behind these images continue to unfold, offering glimpses into the triumphs and tribulations that shape our world. The Bangkok sinkhole may soon be filled and forgotten, but its impact—and the lessons it imparts—will linger long after the cameras have moved on.
