Bangkok building collapse rescue ends; probe into malpractice begins
Investigation launched into design flaws and possible regulatory neglect
Efforts to retrieve bodies following the collapse of the 2.1 billion baht State Audit Office building in Bangkok, instigated by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, have been concluded, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s announcement yesterday, May 10.
Suriyachai Rawiwon, director of the BMA’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, reported that the final areas, including a lift shaft beneath the basement, had been accessed, revealing no bodies or victims after all six shafts were inspected.
Attention will now turn to examining body parts found in the debris, with a K9 dog team still actively searching for remains. Suriyachai noted that a skull fragment was discovered on May 9, followed by two additional bone pieces earlier that day.
In response to inquiries about the seven missing people, Suriyachai stated that larger remains are currently undergoing forensic analysis.
He confirmed that the overall progress aligns with expectations. Plans are on track for the site handover on May 15, following a notification from district officials to the State Audit Office. The site will be returned once the disaster area status is lifted.
Yesterday morning, May 10, the death toll stood at 89, with nine people injured and seven still unaccounted for. Officials have also found four workers who were missing but had not been in the 30-storey building during the March 28 earthquake.
Building collapse
Next week, police are expected to issue arrest warrants for three groups suspected of malpractice leading to the building’s collapse. It was the sole building in the capital to collapse during the earthquake.
In related development, the Council of Engineers is investigating potential breaches of professional ethics concerning the building’s collapse. Though no formal accusations have been filed yet, preliminary evidence suggests unethical actions by two or three people, according to Prasong Norajit, chairman of the council’s legal subcommittee.
A comprehensive review of 2,000 to 3,000 pages of data is ongoing, with cases to be forwarded for formal consideration upon completion. Karun Chantrangsu, head of the ethics committee, mentioned the council is also monitoring a related criminal case involving alleged signature forgery.
If the allegations are substantiated and involve a licensed engineer, the incident could be treated as an ethics violation, with penalties ranging from warnings to license suspension or revocation, reported Bangkok Post.
Additionally, engineers have been appointed to assist a government-appointed committee investigating the cause of the State Audit Office building collapse. The council has also formed a team to gather information on the companies and engineers involved in the construction project, as stated by President Thanet Veerasiri.
Latest Thailand News
Follow The Thaiger on Google News:
