Bangkok building collapse: Body, human remains recovered
BANGKOK: A body and seven sets of human remains have been recovered from the rubble of a 30-storey government building that collapsed during a massive earthquake in March.
The under-construction State Audit Office building was reduced to an immense pile of rubble when a 7.7-magnitude quake struck neighbouring Myanmar on March 28, killing at least 44 people at the construction site.
Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said on Tuesday (April 29) that the body and remains were found during a demolition operation on Monday (April 28).
'Among the findings were one intact body and two other major cases, along with smaller fragments accounting for around five separate cases,' he added.
He said the demolition in zones A and D has reached the first floor, with some sections extending down to the basement.
For zones B and C, which are adjacent to the carpark, machinery has been deployed to remove metal debris and clear a path to areas where more victims are believed to be trapped.
'One month has passed, and our personnel remain fully committed to the task,' said Suriyachai.
One of the main challenges is dismantling zone D2, which adjoins zone C. Officials discovered large, mostly intact concrete slabs stacked approximately four to five layers deep, resembling a stack of pancakes.
Suriyachai said this section must be addressed first, as the concrete slabs are obstructing the fire escape stairwell.
Officials plan to use two heavy-duty demolition machines equipped with impact hammers, along with a backhoe, to break through the debris.
'If we can clear this area during the day, we'll be able to access more of the stairwell at night, which is expected to lead to the discovery of more victims in both zones B and C,' said Suriyachai.
The Royal Thai Police's Central Institute of Forensic Science on April 17 announced that 33 victims had been positively identified.
Of these, 22 were Thai nationals, 10 were from Myanmar, and one was Cambodian. - The Nation/ANN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
a minute ago
- New Straits Times
Tak Bai bomb attack: Kelantan folk advised to pospone travel to Thailand
TUMPAT: Police have urged Kelantanese to exercise extra caution when visiting southern Thailand following a car bomb attack in Tak Bai, Narathiwat, last night that left four people injured. State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the incident occurred just across the border from Pengkalan Kubor, a popular crossing point for Kelantanese travelling to Narathiwat and other southern provinces. He also reminded travellers to avoid high-risk areas, as sporadic bombings and shootings are still taking place in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani. "It is common for Kelantan residents to travel to the three southern provinces, especially during weekends and long holidays. "While police cannot stop them from going, we strongly advise them to remain vigilant and to avoid areas known for security risks," he said when contacted yesterday. Meanwhile, state committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said safety must be a priority for those who still need to journey to the neighbouring country. "Bombing incidents in Thailand are not new. "So while the situation remain volatile, it's best for people of this state to delay travel plans there, especially with the upcoming holiday season. "This preventive measure is important to avoid incidents that could threaten personal safety. "When such incidents occur, it should be taken as a warning not to go there," he said after opening the second branch of 'Nasi Kerabu Kaklah' in Kampung Kayu Rendang, Melor, yesterday. Three members of the Volunteer Defence Force were injured after a bomb-rigged car exploded near a checkpoint in Kampung Khok Mafueang, Salamai subdistrict in Tak Bai, an incident blamed on insurgents from the Thai south. A spokesman for the Narathiwat provincial police was reported as saying that the bomb-laden vehicle was parked in front of a furniture shop about 10 metres from the Salamai checkpoint with the engine still running before it was detonated via remote control.
New Straits Times
a minute ago
- New Straits Times
Army foils RM600,000 cannabis smuggling attempt at Thai border
KOTA BARU: The army thwarted an attempt to smuggle 207kg of compressed cannabis worth more than RM600,000 in the Sungai Golok area along the Malaysia-Thailand border. The Malaysian Second Infantry Division (2 Div) said the incident occurred at 12.45pm yesterday when a patrol team under the responsibility of the Eighth Infantry Brigade encountered four men transferring items from a boat to the riverbank on the Malaysian side. "Upon realising the presence of the operational team, all the suspects fled to the Thai bank, leaving the items behind. "Inspection found that the items consisted of four boxes of compressed cannabis weighing 207kg with an estimated seizure value of RM641,700," it said in a statement yesterday. All seized items have been handed over to the Narcotics Division of the Pasir Mas district police headquarters. – Bernama
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Army Foils RM600,000 Cannabis Smuggling Attempt At Thai Border
KOTA BHARU, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- The vigilance of the Malaysian Army (TDM) once again paid off when it successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle 207 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis worth more than RM600,000 in the Sungai Golok area along the Malaysia-Thailand border. The Malaysian Second Infantry Division (2 Div) in a statement today said the incident occurred at 12.45 pm when a patrol team under the responsibility of the Eighth Infantry Brigade encountered four men transferring items from a boat to the riverbank on the Malaysian side. 'Upon realising the presence of the operational team, all the suspects fled to the Thai bank, leaving the items behind.
