Seven Days Given to Investigate Collapse of Chinese-Built High-Rise

[webfact]

Rescuers work at the site a high-rise building under construction that collapsed after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, early Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

 

Thailand's Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has laid down the law, calling for a quick seven-day investigation into the sudden collapse of the State Audit Office's new high-rise in Bangkok.

 

This Chinese-built structure crumbled, despite being designed to endure earthquakes, leaving the nation demanding answers. The probe aims to pinpoint why the 2.1-billion-baht building, a joint venture by Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group, buckled under pressure.

 

The mission for answers is inclusive and international. China has already dispatched a seismic and tunnel collapse specialist to assess the site, accompanying Ambassador Han Zhiqiang to the scene.

 

 

 

Anutin confirmed the expert's observations and updated the investigation committee comprising top-notch engineers and planners, all pulling their weight to shed light on the incident.

 

Suspicions linger over procedural blunders or flaws in architectural designs, sparking debates about joint responsibility between the Thai and Chinese construction partners.

 

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police have raised eyebrows after questioning four Chinese workers found removing 32 files from the site. These files, now in police custody, were claimed to be for insurance purposes but are shrouded in suspicion.

 

In response, Bangkok's governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, has rallied building owners to reassess their standards.

 

Structures over 23 metres or vast spaces of 10,000 square metres now face rigorous safety checks. This is part of a larger effort to restore confidence in the city's ability to safeguard its citizens, even in the shadow of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that toppled just this one structure.

 

With the clock ticking, the investigation marches on, amid demands for transparency and accountability. The outcome is awaited with bated breath, promising to either reinforce or reshape architectural practices in Thailand and its collaboration with Chinese contractors.

 

Based on a story by Bangkok Post
 

-- 2025-03-31

 

 

[MikeandDow]

Think every one knows the answer ??  but will it see light of day No,!  swept under the carpet,  will be forgotten next news cycle,  You buy cheap you get cheap!!

[proton]

Documents for insurance purposes? when did any policy pay out for an act of God? 

[KhunBENQ]

Chinese built.

Now the Thai bashers have to change direction 🤣🤣

[KhunBENQ]

And then read the other thread about Italian-Thai et.al. and things get more complicated.

[BangkokReady]

Quote

Seven Days Given to Investigate Collapse of Chinese-Built High-Rise

 

It appears that the answer is in the question...  🤔

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

China has already dispatched a seismic and tunnel collapse specialist to assess the site, accompanying Ambassador Han Zhiqiang to the scene.

 

Ah ha. The 'cover up' manager has arrived.

For something a serious as this, the investigation should be thorough, not speedy.

Anutin wants to shovel it under the carpet ASAP.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

34 minutes ago, proton said:

Documents for insurance purposes? when did any policy pay out for an act of God? 

 

If you mean earthquake, flood, windstorm, wildfire, and other naturally occurring events, which are sometimes referred to as "acts of god", then it it quite common for insurance companies to pay claims arising from these perils. These are insurable perils under most generally available property insurance policies.

[proton]

13 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

If you mean earthquake, flood, windstorm, wildfire, and other naturally occurring events, which are sometimes referred to as "acts of god", then it it quite common for insurance companies to pay claims arising from these perils. These are insurable perils under most generally available property insurance policies.

 

But it's doubtful they would need bits of paper for a claim, it would all be online, likely they are lying and the documents were nothing to do with insurance at all

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

6 minutes ago, proton said:

 

But it's doubtful they would need bits of paper for a claim, it would all be online, likely they are lying and the documents were nothing to do with insurance at all

 

It is also unlikely that policy documents would be kept at the construction site. Most relevant bits of paper for insurance purposes would probably be kept at the JV's off-site office, likely somewhere on Ital-Thai's premises.

[Bday Prang]

simple enough to check the concrete,  That along with poor quality steel reinforcement are the 2 main reasons

[Don Giovanni]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The probe aims to pinpoint why the 2.1-billion-baht building, a joint venture by Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group, buckled under pressure.

Here's my quick 'probe' as to why it buckled under pressure.

 

Because both the Thai's and the Chinese are utterly useless at building stuff...

 

There you go, case closed.

 

The Don.

[JimHuaHin]

Money will change hands; the big influential boys/families will be protected; an appropriate (Myanmar worker) scapegoat will be anointed.  Business as usual.

[Toby1947]

1. There was an earthquake 

2. It fell down 

3. Investigation concluded 

4. Nuff said 

[davidpoykan]

On 3/31/2025 at 9:43 AM, Bday Prang said:

simple enough to check the concrete,  That along with poor quality steel reinforcement are the 2 main reasons

There are news reports already of sub standard steel, smaller diameter steel use and lack of proper binding steel fixings.

Perhaps they also better check the actual strength of the concrete too!!  I have seen roads reconcreted here with what looks like grey water ffs!@

[jcmj]

They need a lot longer than a week to figure out exactly what happened. Doing it this fast just makes them look more ignorant about how things should be investigated. They need to take as much time as necessary to collect the information from all of the evidence from the people involved with the building and outsourcing the work to the materials and construction companies. No way this could be done properly in a week, but TIT. They need someone to blame. We know who it won’t be. 

[digger70]

On 3/31/2025 at 8:38 AM, proton said:

Documents for insurance purposes? when did any policy pay out for an act of God? 

One can get an Extra insurance for Earthquake damage on top of ones normal insurance.  

 

While earthquake insurance offers financial protection against certain damages, there are often exclusions and limitations within these policies. Common exclusions may include damage to land, such as soil liquefaction, or pre-existing structural weaknesses not caused by the earthquake. 

[worrab]

1 hour ago, davidpoykan said:

Perhaps they also better check the actual strength of the concrete too!!  I have seen roads reconcreted here with what looks like grey water ffs!@

I have never seen a slump test done in Thailand for any concrete pours. Always like water as you say! No strength whatsoever!

[Surasak]

On 3/31/2025 at 8:38 AM, proton said:

Documents for insurance purposes? when did any policy pay out for an act of God? 

Could try suing God!?

[Sigmund]

Continue selling out Thailand to the Chinese...carry on...

[portisaacozzy]

2 hours ago, davidpoykan said:

There are news reports already of sub standard steel, smaller diameter steel use and lack of proper binding steel fixings.

Perhaps they also better check the actual strength of the concrete too!!  I have seen roads reconcreted here with what looks like grey water ffs!@

they new this was going on for a long time,ivestigated it ,put a stop to it and started again !!!

[chondan]

4 hours ago, worrab said:

I have never seen a slump test done in Thailand for any concrete pours. Always like water as you say! No strength whatsoever!

I took a sample of concrete when they were pouring road in front of my house in rural Isaan.  Took it to Bangkok for analysis.  One half cement missing, too much gravel and sand and water.  Did not dare mention to anyone.  Phuyai Baan is a friend of CPAC.  Road crumbled within two months.  But had a big opening ceremony with the Gov.  and VIP's at the village temple not even close to the road.

[Nickcage49]

Seven days to investigate? Yeah, makes sense to me, lol

[PETERTHEEATER]

Tofu dreg? Surely not.....🤔

[lamyai3]

Given that an earthquake is classed an "act of God" and the building that collapsed was to have been the future National Audit Office, could it be that God smote it down due to disapproval of the incoming Revenue Department proposals? 

[Stargeezr]

Wow, seven whole day for the investigation? Well I hpe the authorities get a good look at those documents

the Chinese fuys were caught hauling away from the area.

[This Guy]

It makes you wonder doesn't it?
If everything had been fine and complete without incident, it would be touted as a marvel of THAI engineering (or for many posters here, ITAL engineering) But once something goes tragically wrong, let's blame the Chinese and ONLY the Chinese.

[newnative]

     Often when you have a catastrophe, such as two planes colliding, or, in this case, a building collapse, it will be later found that a number of factors came together in a 'perfect storm' to cause the catastrophe.  I would guess that will be the case here.  Likely the 'perfect storm' here was some combination of inferior building materials, architectural design and engineering flaws, improper or poor inspection and supervision, and construction errors.

[wavodavo]

On 3/31/2025 at 11:33 AM, MikeandDow said:

Think every one knows the answer ??  but will it see light of day No,!  swept under the carpet,  will be forgotten next news cycle,  You buy cheap you get cheap!!

What 7 days ?? That's far too long. I  would have thought 7 minutes would be plenty of time to do a full inspection.