Thailand’s interior minister has called for the results of an investigation into the collapse of the Chinese-built State Audit Office building within seven days, as four Chinese workers were questioned for removing documents from the site.
An expert from China has been dispatched to assess the collapse site. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Sunday that a committee has been established to conduct the investigation, with findings expected within a week.
The committee includes experienced engineers from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, along with trusted experts, he stated.
“Thailand will quickly determine why the building collapsed. It was recently built and should have been designed to withstand earthquakes,” said the interior minister.
He mentioned that the 30-storey building, intended to be the new headquarters of the State Audit Office in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, was constructed by a consortium including Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group for 2.1 billion baht.
The Chinese ambassador to Bangkok, Han Zhiqiang, introduced a Chinese specialist in tunnel collapses and earthquakes from the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management to Mr. Anutin on Sunday.
Following the meeting, the interior minister noted that the Chinese expert inspected the collapse site and informed the delegation that the Chinese contractor was barred from entering the site.
“The earthquake had a seismic magnitude of 7.8, but more than 95% of the buildings withstood it. Only the State Audit building collapsed,” Mr. Anutin remarked.
“This building was newly constructed. Therefore, it should have withstood the earthquake,” he added.
The investigation will focus on architects, construction supervisors, and builders, according to Mr. Anutin. The Thai and Chinese firms involved in the construction will be held accountable.
He also mentioned that rescue teams are working swiftly to reach any trapped victims.
Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, reported that police interrogated four Chinese men who removed 32 files from containers at the collapsed building site.
The men held work permits and were employed by a firm that was part of the consortium led by Italian-Thai Development, he explained.
The deputy Bangkok police chief noted that the files included various documents such as contractor and subcontractor details. The documents were confiscated, and the Chinese men were released after questioning.
The men claimed they collected the documents to prepare for insurance compensation claims. A complaint against them will be filed by the Chatuchak district office.
Meanwhile, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has requested owners of large structures, including theaters, hotels, billboards, and plants, to verify their buildings’ strength and safety within two weeks.
This directive applies to:
– buildings at least 23 meters high
– buildings encompassing at least 10,000 square meters
– venues capable of accommodating at least 500 people or covering at least 1,000 square meters
– theaters
– hotels with a minimum of 80 rooms
– service parlors spanning at least 200 square meters
– condominium and apartment buildings covering at least 5,000 square meters
– billboards at least 15 meters tall or covering at least 50 square meters
– rooftop billboards covering at least 25 square meters
