Sniffer dogs have been pulled from the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok after searching for survivors for 11 days.
Starting Tuesday, investigators will gather evidence from the ruins as they delve into the causes of the collapse of the 30-storey building, which occurred during the earthquake on March 28.
Suthikiart Sophanik, director of K9 USAR (canine urban search and rescue) Thailand, mentioned on Monday that sniffer dogs typically operate at disaster sites for seven to 10 days. However, the search in the Chatuchak district was extended to 11 days.
The dogs and their handlers have exerted their utmost efforts, and it is now time to use heavy machinery to clear the debris, he stated.
K9 USAR Thailand had nine sniffer dogs and their handlers working at the collapse site, while K9 USAR Canada contributed one dog.
The investigation into the building’s collapse, while other high-rises in Bangkok remain intact, will commence on Tuesday.
This will involve coordination among the Department of Special Investigation, the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, and the Metropolitan Police Bureau.
Pol Maj Woranan Srilam, DSI director for consumer protection, declared on Monday that DSI officials, along with inspectors from the public works department and the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, would inspect the quality of the concrete and steel at the site.
Additionally, the DSI will investigate the construction company’s potential use of Thai nominees.
He has requested that three Thai nationals, listed as shareholders of China Railway No.10 Engineering Co., cooperate with the police and provide any relevant information to the authorities.
CREC 10 is part of the ITD-CREC consortium tasked with constructing the 30-storey State Audit Office at a cost of 2.1 billion baht.
Pol Maj Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, noted that police investigators would collect samples of steel rods and concrete used in the construction, among other material evidence, for analysis.
