Further corpses discovered amidst the debris
In a recent development, five additional bodies were retrieved from the crumbled State Audit Office (SAO) building, as per a senior City Hall official. These grim discoveries took place between 10pm Wednesday and 9am Thursday within Zone D, according to Suriyachai Rawiwan, Director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office.
The search for the missing bodies following the building collapse is still underway, with heavy machinery working tirelessly, around the clock. However, operations are occasionally halted due to equipment malfunctions or the need for part replacements. The focus remains on clearing debris in zones B and C to reach the suspected trapped area.
Currently, 68 deaths have been confirmed, with 26 individuals yet to be traced. Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has requested the attendance of public works authorities and SAO representatives, along with contractors, to witness a document examination at the site. The DSI’s anti-price collusion office is in charge of this process, and the initial stage involves document sorting.
A massive 121 document boxes have been seized from 26 containers at the construction site. The documents include contracts, blueprints, financial records, and work records belonging to Chinese and Thai engineers. Previously, these documents were supposedly absent during a search at the SAO office.
Several engineers have been summoned to give statements to the DSI, with nine confirming their appointments. The DSI is examining allegations of the use of nominees in the company that bagged the construction contract.
Though specific details regarding nominees in the winning contract company have not been made clear in the search results, the ongoing probe promises to reveal more as it progresses. The collapse of the State Audit Office building has sparked a comprehensive investigation, with the Ministry of Industry investigating potential use of substandard materials and the PM ordering cooperation from all relevant agencies. The incident has also raised concerns about the construction design, safety codes, and the role of the contractor.
- The search for more bodies following the State Audit Office (SAO) building collapse continues, with the focus now on clearing debris in zones B and C to potentially reach trapped areas.
- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has added the attendance of SAO representatives to their document examination proceedings at the site.
- In addition to the seized documents, the DSI has summoned several engineers to give statements regarding allegations of using nominees in the winning contract company for the SAO building construction.
- The collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building has led to concerns about construction design, safety codes, and the contractor, as well as an investigation into the possible use of substandard materials, ordered by the Prime Minister.
