Two workers were killed and another severely injured when they were buried alive at a pipeline site in Thailand.

The locals were carving an underground path to lay pipes when the soil caved in and trapped them in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, on March 17.

Police said they received a report at 3 pm, and arrived at the scene where excavators and rescue teams were digging through the debris.

Rescuers pulled out the mud-drenched bodies of Woraphong Suwankaew, 48, and Kritsada Petchrak, 31, who suffocated in the 16ft pit. Another worker named Oat was found in critical condition. He was rushed to the Khanom Hospital with severe injuries.

Police Captain Pratchaya Kaewyod of Khanom District Police Station said: 'The initial investigation found that the workers were using water pressure to dig under the asphalt road for water pipes.

'However, the ground suddenly collapsed, and only one of them was rescued in time, while the other two were trapped inside.

'‘We will investigate further to determine the cause of the landslide accident that killed both workers.'

Last month, two workers were also killed at a pipeline site in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Kamol Nakudnok, 57, Chawalit Dao-on, 70, were laying down drainage pipes when the huge pile of soil they had excavated slid down on top of them on February 26 evening. They were found dead beneath the rubble after an hours-long rescue effort.