Dorm inspected in Phuket after quake sparks safety fears
In the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake in Myanmar, scrutiny has intensified on a Chinese contractor linked to multiple construction projects across Thailand, including a long-delayed female student dormitory at Phuket Rajabhat University.
On April 3, officials from the Phuket branch of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT Phuket) carried out an urgent inspection of the seven-storey dormitory built by China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd.
The company, a local unit of China’s state-owned China Railway Group, also constructed the 33-storey State Audit Office high-rise in Bangkok that partially collapsed following the quake on March 28.
With fears of structural vulnerabilities running high, DPT officials were dispatched to inspect the dorm’s integrity under orders from Bangkok. However, the site visit got off to a rocky start when university administrators initially refused access, requiring formal permission.
After a tense 30-minute wait, officials were allowed inside but were reportedly asked not to take any photographs during the inspection.
According to Ditthaphon Kaewmunichoke, the supervising engineer, the dormitory project began in 2020 with a budget of approximately 132 million baht and was originally scheduled for completion in 2022.
Delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic pushed the completion date back nearly two years. Ditthaphon admitted there “may have been some problems” during construction and confirmed that the company had been fined for exceeding the contract deadline.
Ditthaphon maintained, however, that materials used, including steel and cement, had been regularly inspected to ensure they met national standards.
“The building is structurally sound and safe for use,” he said, noting that the initial inspection revealed no visible cracks or damage.
The dormitory inspection came on the heels of another troubling discovery, cracks were reported in the structure of the under-construction Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) office in Ratsada, also being built by China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd.
The same contractor is currently working on a massive 354-unit housing project in the province with a budget of 343 million baht, reported Phuket News.
Amid growing concerns, the Department of Special Investigation is now probing possible Thai nominee shareholdings in China Railway No.10 Engineering Co (CREC), according to Bangkok Post.
Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee summed up public sentiment, stating, “It is critical to examine how government funds are being used and whether the materials and structural integrity of these projects meet safety regulations.”
Latest Thailand News
