BANGKOK, April 23 (TNA) – Rescue teams in Bangkok are continuing the difficult task of recovering bodies and human remains from the site of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building.
Progress is being made in clearing the debris, with officials estimating that the site will be cleared down to the first floor by the end of April. However, the operation is hampered by challenges such as heavy steel structures and frequent breakdowns of essential heavy machinery.
Recent efforts have yielded the discovery of two bodies in the stairwell and several instances of human remains, including tissue and bone fragments, both at the collapse site and at the debris disposal location. These remains are being sent for forensic identification.
As of Wednesday morning, the official figures remain at 53 confirmed deaths, nine injuries, and 41 people still missing, not accounting for the most recently recovered remains.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the building’s collapse is progressing, with police having questioned a significant number of individuals, including witnesses, injured parties, and relatives of the deceased.
Authorities are actively gathering remaining documents and awaiting reports from various agencies. Allegations of forged signatures on construction documents are also being investigated, and the individual listed as the building’s designer has testified that his role was limited to a one-time consultancy.
Police have assured a thorough and uninfluenced investigation, with further questioning of SAO officials and the construction contractor currently underway. -819 (TNA)
