THAILAND: Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt officially declared the end of a six-week search and recovery operation on Tuesday (13 May) for the victims of the State Audit Office (SAO) building collapse.
The tragedy unfolded after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on 28 March, causing the 30-storey SAO high-rise under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district to collapse.
The SAO headquarters was part of a 2.136 billion baht (approximately S$84.4 million) government project intended to house the Office of the Auditor General.
It was the only high-rise building in the Thai capital to collapse as a result of the earthquake.
At the time of the disaster, 109 workers were reported to be inside the building.
Search teams later recovered 89 bodies, with seven individuals still unaccounted for.
Nine workers were injured, while four others, listed as on duty, were not at the site and later returned home safely.
Final Sweep and Remembrance
Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej announced on Monday that 296 body parts and bones had been recovered from the rubble.
These remains have been sent to Police General Hospital for DNA testing to confirm their identity.
On the final day of the search, K-9 units conducted one last sweep of the debris for any remaining victims.
This was followed by a merit-making ceremony with 109 monks, symbolising the total number of people present at the construction site when the earthquake occurred.
The search and rescue mission, led by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), involved soldiers, police, volunteers, and other officials.
The site will be officially handed back to the SAO and relevant agencies on Thursday.
Motorists are advised to avoid the outbound section of Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road near the collapse site from Tuesday until 6pm on Thursday, as heavy machinery is being removed.
Governor Chadchart reflected on the significance of the operation, stating, “Life goes on. This operation showed the unity of all Thais. We are ready to help each other.”
Police to Seek Arrest Warrants in SAO Collapse Investigation
Meanwhile, Bangkok police are preparing to request arrest warrants for 17 individuals, including engineers, site supervisors, and executives linked to the building’s collapse.
The suspects under investigation are affiliated with the joint venture between Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group Co, which oversaw the construction of the project.
The planned legal action follows a detailed investigation by the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), which compiled physical evidence, documentation, and witness testimonies.
Expert evaluations were also provided by the Council of Engineers, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, and Chulalongkorn University.
Over 300 samples of steel and concrete were tested, along with forensic signature verification.
In earlier investigations, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) found that 30 engineering signatures had been forged on construction documents, with only eight individuals confirming that their signatures were authentic.
According to police sources, the 17 suspects fall into three categories: personnel from the construction joint venture, site supervisors, and engineers responsible for approving the structural design and execution of the construction.
The suspects are expected to face charges under Sections 227 and 238 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, which address violations of engineering standards that result in fatalities.
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