Negligence charges likely over bell tower collapse in Bangkok

[webfact]

Negligence charges likely over bell tower collapse

By Kitipong Mameerit 
The Nation

 

 

The Bangkok Noi authority will have several temples under its jurisdiction examined for safety after the bell tower of Prayatham Temple collapsed and killed a worker on Tuesday.

 

 

There are 32 old temples in the Bangkok Noi district, district director Nattapong Meepokkit said. His officials will assess each site to evaluate its safety to prevent similar accidents.

 

 

“We do not know the cause of the collapse. It is pending investigation by police,” Nattapong said. “The Fine Arts Department is supervising the renovation.”

 

A construction firm has been renovating the temple, which is on Arun-Amarin 15 Road. Workers were renovating a pagoda lifted, when the bell tower collapsed. 

 

One worker died and 11 were injured, including three who were in a serious condition. One man may even lose his leg. 

 

Initially it was believed that nobody died from the accident and that the injured were transported to hospitals nearby.

 

However one worker, identified as Suriyan Thongsai, could not be accounted for and was later found lying face down near the pagoda’s foundation.

 

Nattapong says his office will consult with those involved over compensation for the injured. Relatives of the deceased will be advised to file a complaint with police against those responsible for the accident.

 

Those who were in charge of supervising the renovation will also be identified in a few days, according to Bangkok Noi’s deputy police commander.

 

They will be charged with negligence leading to injury and deaths of others, Pol Colonel Peechaya Hawangju said.

 

 

Fine Arts Department director-general Anant Chuchote has visited the site to collect information for determining the specific cause of the incident, and to determine whether it was the result of negligence or purely an accident.

 

 

He revealed that engineers who were in charge of the work have experience in similar work. Anant said he will chair a meeting to identify measures to prevent further damage to the pagoda.

 

Meanwhile, Suriyan’s wife visited the site and performed a religious ritual to invite his spirit back home.

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30355285

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-27

[bluesofa]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Fine Arts Department director-general Anant Chuchote has visited the site to collect information for determining the specific cause of the incident, and to determine whether it was the result of negligence or purely an accident.

I was always taught there is no such thing as an accident. It's always due to lack of responsibility, understanding, concentration, etc.

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Anant said he will chair a meeting to identify measures to prevent further damage to the pagoda.

Yeah, yeah, and all other pagodas too, I'm sure.

A couple of months ago when the Chinese drowned off Phuket, there was the usual "committee dreaming up never-to-be-implemented measures"

Next week there will be yet another "accident" which will need urgent safety measures, never to used.

Being forward-looking and preventative maintenance is not something that anyone is interested in here.

 

[AhFarangJa]

Thailand Safety measures.............An oxymoron if ever there was/

[Aussieroaming]

Purely an accident or pure stupidity. 

Given that they were excavating the footings and havent propped the main structure, I suspect the latter.

 

 

[KKr]

well, if people cannot even count the number of workers on site, and find a forgotten person later, that says enough about the management capabilities of this fine construction company.
makes one wonder whether the people in charge can calculate statics, or have been paying attention at all at the school they supposedly went to.
and I am surely really surprised that no-one was apparently in charge, since 
"Those who were in charge of supervising the renovation will also be identified in a few days"   

 

[toofarnorth]

A bell tower that could  be hundreds of years old collapsed after being under mined by a construction firm.   Who was it that said ' They know nothing ' ?

Hardly ' Time Team ' .

[MaxLee]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“We do not know the cause of the collapse. It is pending investigation by police,” Nattapong said. “The Fine Arts Department is supervising the renovation.”

 

Well, everyone else figured it out: "SH***** materials made in China"......

[happy chappie]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I was always taught there is no such thing as an accident. It's always due to lack of responsibility, understanding, concentration, etc.

 

Yeah, yeah, and all other pagodas too, I'm sure.

A couple of months ago when the Chinese drowned off Phuket, there was the usual "committee dreaming up never-to-be-implemented measures"

Next week there will be yet another "accident" which will need urgent safety measures, never to used.

Being forward-looking and preventative maintenance is not something that anyone is interested in here.

 

Unfortunately in Thailand nothing gets fixed until its broke and death occurred.then its usually patched up with duct tape,silicone and a lick of paint.

[Rhys]

Just sad..

[bluesofa]

3 hours ago, happy chappie said:

Unfortunately in Thailand nothing gets fixed until its broke and death occurred.then its usually patched up with duct tape,silicone and a lick of paint.

As long as it's lead-free paint of course.