Latest news with #Akanat
Times of Oman
04-04-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Collapse of tower in Bangkok raises alarm over construction standards
Bangkok: The recent collapse of a Chinese-constructed office building in Bangkok has further fueled negative views regarding China's expanding business influence in Thailand, challenging the government's welcoming policy towards Beijing, as reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA). Authorities are looking into the reasons behind the implosion of the unfinished skyscraper, which buried numerous construction workers, following a powerful 7.7 tremor that struck Myanmar on Friday, felt throughout the region. It was the sole high-rise in Bangkok to fall. Preliminary tests of materials from the construction site revealed the use of inferior quality steel, according to RFA. This incident may deepen the existing dissatisfaction among locals, who feel that Chinese investments and companies do not benefit them. "Only one building has collapsed," Industry Minister Akanat Promphan informed the media, while emphasizing he wasn't hastily concluding the disaster's cause, as noted by RFA. "I think the public can determine the reason for its collapse," remarked Akanat, who has been vocal against what appears to be a widespread issue of defective Chinese industrial goods in Thailand, as reported by RFA. China became the leading foreign investor in Thailand for the first time in 2019, surpassing Japan, which had previously held this status for many years, and continued to do so in 2023, according to Thailand's investment promotion agency. The influx of Chinese investment into Thailand was partly driven by U.S. tariffs on Chinese exports introduced during Trump's first term. According to RFA, this strategy of avoiding tariffs may now be uncertain after President Donald Trump announced extensive new tariffs aimed at nearly all nations, including a 36% duty on products from Thailand. The Chinese embassy in Bangkok stated that its companies abroad are always expected to operate legally and make contributions to society, as reported by RFA. "China fully supports and meets the requirements of Thailand and urges relevant Chinese firms to cooperate entirely with the Thai government in the investigation of this incident. We trust that the Thai government's inquiry will yield fair and scientifically sound outcomes," an embassy spokesperson conveyed as quoted by RFA.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thai official sees "something suspicious" in quake toppling Bangkok tower
Serious questions have emerged over the tragedy still playing out on a construction site in Thailand's capital four days after an earthquake in neighboring Myanmar rattled the metropolis. A 30-story skyscraper that had been under construction was the only tower in Bangkok that completely failed to withstand Friday's 7.7 magnitude earthquake and the ongoing aftershocks. It was reduced to a mountain of rubble within seconds on Friday, killing at least 19 people and leaving 77 still missing as of Monday, after the volunteer rescue organization Fire and Rescue Thailand said another body was pulled from the debris. Thai authorities have ordered an investigation into the isolated collapse to determine whether it could have been due to inadequate building materials, design flaws or a failure in the inspections and approvals process. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited the site Monday as heavy machinery pulled at the rubble in hopes of finding more survivors. He said all efforts were focused on finding anyone who might still be saved. "Even one life saved is worth all the effort, so I think we have to move on, carry on," he said. But he made it clear that authorities were already thinking about how it could have happened and how to prevent it happening again. "What's important in the long-term and medium-term — I think we need to find the root cause so at least we can learn some lessons and improve building regulations," Chadchart told journalists at the scene. "In the end, we will have some results that will improve safety in Bangkok." Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was among those voicing concern over the weekend about why the skyscraper was the only one to suffer major damage."I have questions in my mind," she said. "What happened from the beginning since it was designed? How was this design approved," she said. "We have to investigate where the mistake happened."The leader confirmed an investigation into the incident, involving a group of experts tasked with providing initial findings within just days. Some critics have speculated that the steel reinforcement bars used to connect concrete components within the structure may have been too thin, or of insufficient quality. Experts removed several steel rods from the rubble for testing on Monday. On Sunday, AFP quoted Thai Industry Minister Akanat Promphan as saying six different types of steel, all from a single manufacturer, had been discovered at the scene."The collapse of a building can come from several factors, from design, construction (and) material specification," Akanat said. "Most important is the standard of the materials."Akanat told reporters he'd "found something suspicious" already, but that he'd wait for test results to provide more information. The project to build the new State Audit Building was a joint venture between a Bangkok-based property developer, the Italian-Thai Development company, and a Chinese state-owned firm, the China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group, which was carrying out much of the actual construction work. On Sunday, Bangkok Metropolitan Police Major General Noppasin Poonsawat, the deputy commissioner of the force, was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying officers had questioned four Chinese men who were found removing 32 files from containers behind the collapsed building. The men reportedly had work permits for the site and were employed by a company under the auspices of the Italian-Thai Development firm, Noppasin said. Noppasin was quoted by the Post as saying the files contained documents with information about contractors and sub-contractors on the project, and that the police had seized the files and then released the Chinese men after questioning. Thai Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters Sunday that he had ordered the establishment of an investigation committee and that he wanted results reported back to him within seven days. "We will definitely find the true reasons as to why this building has collapsed, because it's all scientific," Anutin said. Hope was fading fast Monday that any more construction workers could be pulled from the rubble alive, but crews using search dogs continued to retrieve the bodies of victims as families keep vigil near the site, refusing to lose hope. Freed Israeli hostages call for end to war, to bring remaining Gaza hostages home What is the future of the Kennedy Center? Elton John, Brandi Carlile on their dream collaboration
CBS News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Thailand probes earthquake toppling of Bangkok high-rise as official sees "something suspicious"
Serious questions have emerged over the tragedy still playing out on a construction site in Thailand's capital four days after an earthquake in neighboring Myanmar rattled the metropolis. A 30-story skyscraper that had been under construction was the only tower in Bangkok that completely failed to withstand Friday's 7.7 magnitude earthquake and the ongoing aftershocks. It was reduced to a mountain of rubble within seconds on Friday, killing at least 19 people and leaving 77 still missing as of Monday, after the volunteer rescue organization Fire and Rescue Thailand said another body was pulled from the debris. Thai authorities have ordered an investigation into the isolated collapse to determine whether it could have been due to inadequate building materials, design flaws or a failure in the inspections and approvals process. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited the site Monday as heavy machinery pulled at the rubble in hopes of finding more survivors. He said all efforts were focused on finding anyone who might still be saved. "Even one life saved is worth all the effort, so I think we have to move on, carry on," he said. But he made it clear that authorities were already thinking about how it could have happened and how to prevent it happening again. "What's important in the long-term and medium-term — I think we need to find the root cause so at least we can learn some lessons and improve building regulations," Chadchart told journalists at the scene. "In the end, we will have some results that will improve safety in Bangkok." Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was among those voicing concern over the weekend about why the skyscraper was the only one to suffer major damage. "I have questions in my mind," she said. "What happened from the beginning since it was designed? How was this design approved," she said. "We have to investigate where the mistake happened." The leader confirmed an investigation into the incident, involving a group of experts tasked with providing initial findings within just days. Some critics have speculated that the steel reinforcement bars used to connect concrete components within the structure may have been too thin, or of insufficient quality. Experts removed several steel rods from the rubble for testing on Monday. On Sunday, AFP quoted Thai Industry Minister Akanat Promphan as saying six different types of steel, all from a single manufacturer, had been discovered at the scene. "The collapse of a building can come from several factors, from design, construction (and) material specification," Akanat said. "Most important is the standard of the materials." Akanat told reporters he'd "found something suspicious" already, but that he'd wait for test results to provide more information. The project to build the new State Audit Building was a joint venture between a Bangkok-based property developer, the Italian-Thai Development company, and a Chinese state-owned firm, the China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group, which was carrying out much of the actual construction work. On Sunday, Bangkok Metropolitan Police Major General Noppasin Poonsawat, the deputy commissioner of the force, was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying officers had questioned four Chinese men who were found removing 32 files from containers behind the collapsed building. The men reportedly had work permits for the site and were employed by a company under the auspices of the Italian-Thai Development firm, Noppasin said. Noppasin was quoted by the Post as saying the files contained documents with information about contractors and sub-contractors on the project, and that the police had seized the files and then released the Chinese men after questioning. Thai Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters Sunday that he had ordered the establishment of an investigation committee and that he wanted results reported back to him within seven days. "We will definitely find the true reasons as to why this building has collapsed, because it's all scientific," Anutin said. Hope was fading fast Monday that any more construction workers could be pulled from the rubble alive, but crews using search dogs continued to retrieve the bodies of victims as families keep vigil near the site, refusing to lose hope.
