Mongkol Kitti Proposes Earthquake Preparedness Policy: Bangkok Buildings Over 20 Stories Must Have Parachute Systems
Bangkok politician Mongkol Kitti proposes equipping high-rise buildings with parachute systems for earthquake safety, while also advocating for underground rail passages and automated gates to prevent train-vehicle collisions.
On May 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM, Mongkol Kitti Suksintharan, chairman of the Bangkok Can Fly group, along with Phaspong Chaiyavirinyawanit and candidate deputy Bangkok governor Phakorn Chanthakanha, held a community engagement event at Lumpini Park featuring aerobic exercise activities attended by hundreds of residents.
Before the park event, Mongkol visited Wat Thung Khru School, where hundreds of students welcomed him. He emphasized that physical fitness is essential for preparing citizens to handle future crises.
During the outing, Mongkol addressed a recent train-bus collision that resulted in a fire and multiple fatalities, noting that Bangkok's critical railway crossing problem stems from inadequate barrier systems that fail to deter drivers. He explained that current wooden barriers provide insufficient deterrence, with many drivers ignoring warning signals by crossing barriers or parking on tracks despite station officials' attempts to signal them away. This dangerous behavior is a leading factor in Bangkok traffic congestion, given the hundreds of railway crossings scattered throughout the city.
Mongkol proposed permanent solutions including underground passages modeled after Bangkok's Bang Sue design, where trains run above ground while vehicles pass below. He suggested this design, used successfully in many countries with urban rail systems, requires significant budget allocation from the Transport Ministry and Highway Department but represents a worthwhile long-term investment in safety and traffic flow.
For a more budget-friendly alternative, Mongkol recommended adopting China's automated closing gate system using automatic sliding steel panels instead of traditional wooden barriers, preventing vehicles from entering crossing points when trains approach. He also proposed implementing AI-controlled traffic signal management and advanced warning systems.
Addressing earthquake preparedness following a recent 5.3 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar that was felt in Bangkok high-rises, Mongkol stressed that buildings exceeding 20 stories should be equipped with parachute systems and survival equipment for occupants.
