NAKHON PHANOM: A new cycling path along the Mekong riverbank has been closed after part of it collapsed only two days after an inaugural cycling event to promote tourism.
The cycling path, in Muang district, is about 1.1 kilometres long and only recently built, and was still awaiting acceptance by the provincial hall.
A viewpoint section about 50 metres long collapsed on Tuesday.
Engineers from the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning examined the path's structure and found many structural cracks and a mudslide had already affected its foundation.
The engineers said the structure as built could not withstand the riverbank erosion caused by recent heavy rain.
The collapse occurred only two days after the Tourism Authority of Thailand and local authorities held a cycling event along the path on Sunday to promote local tourism.
Chanchai Sribenja of a Nakhon Phanom cycling club said on Friday that cycling events organised alongside the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom were popular with local tourists.
The collapse of the new cycling path could have a negative impact. Enforcing construction standards would be an effective solution, he said.