Authorities in the Thai capital of Bangkok on Wednesday were tackling a large sinkhole that appeared when a piece of busy road collapsed 50 meters (160 feet) into the ground.

The sinkhole appeared in front of the city's main hospitals and near a police station in a residential neighborhood of the city. The site was cordoned off and people living and working nearby were asked to evacuate.

Suriyachai Rawiwan, head of Bangkok's disaster agency, told the AFP news agency that heavy rain likely eroded a large underground water pipe that may have already been leaking, causing the damage. 

Sinkhole slowly growing

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters that "dirt from an underground train construction was sliding in," exacerbating the issue. 

"Luckily there are no deaths or injuries," he added.

Footage on social media showed pieces of the road slowly sinking into the ground, widening the hole. Utilities and electricity were affected in the area near the incident.

Local authorities cautioned residents and onlookers to stay away, saying that the area was still dangerous.

Edited by Sean Sinico