Bangkok building collapse: Death toll now 21, more than 70 still missing
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The under-construction State Audit Office building collapsed on March 28 due to the impact of an 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar.
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BANGKOK - Three more bodies have been recovered from the rubble of a collapsed 30-storey building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, bringing the death toll from the disaster to 21, a rescue official confirmed on April 8.
At least 73 others are still missing following the collapse of the building, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported on April 8.
The State Audit Office building which was under construction collapsed on March 28, owing to the impact of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake
Most of the bodies were found in Zones A and C, while search-and-rescue efforts continue in Zone D, where it is believed many workers were trapped, Bangkok Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej said.
She added that a volunteer demolition company plans to bring in Thailand’s largest backhoe loader to help remove debris on April 8.
The goal is to clear concrete rubble blocking the lift shaft in Zone C, which will allow rescue teams to reach the debris of floors 20 and above, where more workers are expected to be found, Dr Tavida explained.
“I can confirm that no company has ever demolished a building in this manner all at once, with more than 20,000 cubic m of rubble piled up in the front,” the deputy governor of the Thai capital added.
“The use of the backhoe loader will help reduce the height of the building and clear the lift shaft in Zones C and D.”
She also clarified that the contractors working on this project have never asked for donations, urging the public not to believe claims to the contrary.
“The rescue teams are working round the clock in rotating shifts, with machinery still operating non-stop behind the scenes,” Dr Tavida added. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
