On March 30, the Thai interior minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the formation of a special committee to investigate the collapse of a 30 -built 30 -storey building in Bangkok, which occurred during a powerful earthquake that hit the region. The investigation should conclude within seven days.
The government launches urgent investigations into the construction of the collapse
According to Minister Anutin, the Committee includes expert engineers from the Department of Public Works and Planning of the City and the Country, together with other trusted experts.
“Thailand will discover quickly because the building has collapsed. It was recently built and should have been designed to resist earthquakes”, Anutin said.
The building was to become the new headquarters of the General Auditor’s Office in the Chatuchak district. The state agency had contracted a joint venture between the Itii-Thai Development and China Railway engineering group n. 10 To build the project, worth 2.1 billion Baht (about 62,000 USD).
Chinese experts and citizens involved in the current investigations
On the same day, the Chinese ambassador to Bangkok Han Zhiqiang brought a specialist of earthquakes and tunnels of the Ministry of Chinese management for the meeting with Anutin. After inspecting the site, Anutin confirmed that while Chinese was allowed to observe the scene, Chinese contractors were not allowed to enter.
“The earthquake had a seismic intensity of 7.8, yet over 95% of the buildings resisted it. Only the building of the general auditor has collapsed, even if it was recently built. It is unacceptable”, Anutin said.
The investigation will focus on architects, site supervisors, construction workers and Joint Venture Thai-Cinesi responsible for the project.
In the meantime, the rescue teams are still working to reach those trapped in the rubble.
The seizure of documents raises further questions between the investigations
The major general of the police Noppasin Poonsowat, vice commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, reported that four Chinese citizens were questioned after removing 32 documents of containers from containers in the collapsed construction site.
These people had legal work permits and were affiliated to the Italian-Thai development group. According to reports, the seized documents contained information on the project contractors. The authorities confiscated the documents and released men after the interrogation.
Chinese workers explained that the documents were intended for the preparation of an insurance complaint. However, the Chatuchak district office is planning to present a complaint against them. In a correlated move, the governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sittipunt ordered the owners of buildings, hotels, billboards and factories of skyscrapers to conduct safety inspections of their structures within two weeks.
With the increase of public concern, this case can mark a critical turn in the supervision of Thailand on construction standards and in the preparation for catastrophes.
