Bangkok Governor Sets End-of-April Target to Clear Collapsed Building Debris

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has announced that the height of the collapsed Office of the Auditor General building has now been reduced from 26 metres to 20.5 metres, raising hopes of locating more bodies. The high-rise structure crumbled following an earthquake, with the most affected zones believed to be floors 24 to 29.

 

Speaking at the disaster site at 11:00 on 14 April, Governor Chadchart stated that evidence strongly suggests many workers were on the upper floors when the building collapsed. Due to extreme shaking during the quake, it is believed that many were unable to escape in time via emergency stairwells, becoming trapped instead.

 

 

Despite some private rescue teams beginning to withdraw from the scene, Chadchart assured the public that the operation remains fully staffed, with around 500 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) personnel still working at full capacity. He confirmed that all essential equipment, including fuel and hydraulic lines, remains in good supply, with approximately 5,100 litres of fuel consumed daily.

 

The governor set a target to complete removal of the debris by the end of April.

 

Heavy machinery, alongside drone surveillance, is being used to assist in the search, particularly in zones B and C, where emergency staircases and lift shafts are located. These areas are being prioritised as potential sites where victims bodies may be found.

 

Four more bodies were discovered on 13 April in Zone C, bringing the official death toll to 41. A total of 53 people remain unaccounted for.

 

Governor Chadchart reiterated that every human remain will be recovered, and all victims will be identified. Modern forensic technology, including DNA analysis, will be used, and where necessary, identification will also rely on clothing and other personal effects.

 

He also encouraged families of undocumented migrant workers not to fear coming forward to provide DNA samples for identification purposes, emphasising that no legal action would be taken against them.

 

Regarding the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) entering the site to collect additional forensic evidence, the governor confirmed it has not affected rescue operations and said the BMA fully supports the investigation.

 

-- 2025-04-15

 

[hotchilli]

On 4/15/2025 at 3:40 AM, Georgealbert said:

The governor set a target to complete removal of the debris by the end of April.

A tall order..

[jcmj]

That’ll be hard to complete in 14 days plus dealing with the removal of the bodies, which I’m sure will be much higher than expected. Take your time and do it properly. What’s the rush at this point? Getting ready to build again?

[AustinRacing]

Disgustingly shameful. Over 500 people allegedly hands on but can’t clear one building in time to save lives. How many thousand soldiers are there around bkk? Why not use them in the first place? 

[richard_smith237]

36 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Disgustingly shameful. Over 500 people allegedly hands on but can’t clear one building in time to save lives. How many thousand soldiers are there around bkk? Why not use them in the first place? 

 

I don't think you considered your response with any sensible critical thought whatsoever. 

 

Have you even seen photo's of the wreckage ?

Its now a 20 meter pile of twisted rebar and rubble - thats the equivalent of 6 stories high.

 

Do you expect solders to be able to cut the twisted rebar and carry out blocks of concrete by hand?

 

 

.... as hotchilli wrote, its a tall order, and as jcmj wrote, there really is no need to rush things now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Georgealbert]

14 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Disgustingly shameful. Over 500 people allegedly hands on but can’t clear one building in time to save lives. How many thousand soldiers are there around bkk? Why not use them in the first place? 

Sorry but the complexity of this type of rescue, means a slow methodology in the hope of detecting any survivors.

 

Just pulling apart the buildings remains is likely to cause further collapses in the structure.

 

It does not matter how many personal are on site, you can’t safely or operationally just deploy multiple resources and hope.

 

Sorry but without USAR knowledge calling this rescue shameful, is doing an injustice to both the rescuers and authorities, who have been working in dangerous, hazardous and extremely complex conditions.

 

The rescue is now moving to a body recovery stage and still you can’t just rip the building apart, as respect still has to be given to the human remains still within the structure.

 

The responders should be praised for this rescue attempt, with the blame for the deaths aimed at the contractors and the system that allowed this tragedy to occur.

[AustinRacing]

57 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I don't think you considered your response with any sensible critical thought whatsoever. 

 

Have you even seen photo's of the wreckage ?

Its now a 20 meter pile of twisted rebar and rubble - thats the equivalent of 6 stories high.

 

Do you expect solders to be able to cut the twisted rebar and carry out blocks of concrete by hand?

 

 

.... as hotchilli wrote, its a tall order, and as jcmj wrote, there really is no need to rush things now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonsense. It’s one building. A thousand soldiers each picking up a stone from day one would’ve had it cleared with a lot of people saved. I’ve been to the site a couple of days after. Lots of emergency vehicles, people in uniform all around the site, hardly any movement. 

[AustinRacing]

58 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Sorry but the complexity of this type of rescue, means a slow methodology in the hope of detecting any survivors.

 

Just pulling apart the buildings remains is likely to cause further collapses in the structure.

 

It does not matter how many personal are on site, you can’t safely or operationally just deploy multiple resources and hope.

 

Sorry but without USAR knowledge calling this rescue shameful, is doing an injustice to both the rescuers and authorities, who have been working in dangerous, hazardous and extremely complex conditions.

 

The rescue is now moving to a body recovery stage and still you can’t just rip the building apart, as respect still has to be given to the human remains still within the structure.

 

The responders should be praised for this rescue attempt, with the blame for the deaths aimed at the contractors and the system that allowed this tragedy to occur.

Nonsense. If there was a will to speed things up lots of people wouldn’t die. The number of rescuers standing around way outweighed the numbers doing any rescuing. I saw that for myself. 

[Georgealbert]

3 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Nonsense. It’s one building. A thousand soldiers each picking up a stone from day one would’ve had it cleared with a lot of people saved. I’ve been to the site a couple of days after. Lots of emergency vehicles, people in uniform all around the site, hardly any movement. 

Sorry but when you lack any experience or knowledge about USAR (Urban Search and Rescue), you end up making embarrassing statements.

 

Multiple deployment as you suggest, would not work. The search has to controlled under a full incident command system. This site was split into four sections, A,B,C and D, classic zone incident command.

 

The initial aim was to identify possible locations of survivors. This was attempted using technology, infra red drones, endoscope cameras, hydrophone listening devices and specialised search radar. This often means the site has to be cleared to stop noise or movement, so that accurate readings can be taken.

 

At the same time, consultations with engineers and review of building blueprints will try to establish possible zones where voids may have survived the collapsed, such as lift shafts, service shafts or stairwells.

 

Once technology has done its job, K9 dogs were deployed to first search for survivors and then bodies.

 

The first priority in any emergency or rescue is the safety of the responders. A mass of people climbing all over a large unstable structure, just provides greater dangers, lack of incident control and unacceptable risks to responders, plus also increasing the risk of further collapse in or under the structure.

 

In this type of pancake collapse most of the bodies with be flattened, with the bones fully crushed and the internal organs, blood, etc, normally exploding out, often through a foot or hand. This will create a biohazard and the decomposition in the Bangkok sun, will make the site, an extremely unpleasant working area.

 

Thailand has a structured USAR response, with DDPM taking the lead with its own teams and supported by BKK fire and rescue service USAR teams. All are trained through the DDPM training centre and courses. Most of the other responders on the site, are volunteer teams, who lack the specialist training, but will work under instructions of qualified teams leaders.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

26 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Nonsense. If there was a will to speed things up lots of people wouldn’t die. The number of rescuers standing around way outweighed the numbers doing any rescuing. I saw that for myself. 

 

You highlight the true ignorance of someone who has no idea of the subject matter they are attempting to discuss.

[richard_smith237]

30 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Nonsense. It’s one building. A thousand soldiers each picking up a stone from day one would’ve had it cleared with a lot of people saved. I’ve been to the site a couple of days after. Lots of emergency vehicles, people in uniform all around the site, hardly any movement. 

 

These 'stones' weigh tonnes - its not a pile of small rocks that can easily be handled.

 

GeorgeAlberts response above should help educate you a little.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Magictoad]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

You highlight the true ignorance of someone who has no idea of the subject matter they are attempting to discuss.

"true" ignorance.  "attempting "?????? What are you talking about?

[AustinRacing]

2 hours ago, Magictoad said:

"true" ignorance.  "attempting "?????? What are you talking about?

Exactly. Load of drivel. We’re talking about one building and a handful of people not a disaster involving a whole block of buildings in a large area. Defending the inept, more talk less action mentality, prioritizing capturing footage over rescue, not to mention hardly heard from the leadership suggesting the lax mentality of people. I bet they could’ve rescued most if not all if they did something rather than talking, planning, taking videos etc  not sure why some people try to defend the incompetence of authorities here. 

[Georgealbert]

5 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Exactly. Load of drivel. We’re talking about one building and a handful of people not a disaster involving a whole block of buildings in a large area. Defending the inept, more talk less action mentality, prioritizing capturing footage over rescue, not to mention hardly heard from the leadership suggesting the lax mentality of people. I bet they could’ve rescued most if not all if they did something rather than talking, planning, taking videos etc  not sure why some people try to defend the incompetence of authorities here. 

I would like to agree with you, but that would just make us both wrong. Your Dunning Kruger effect is strong today.

 

Sorry the only person that is talking drivel is yourself.

 

A keyboard expert, with no knowledge, no training and no experience, defaming the people doing an  excellent good in extremely difficult, challenging and almost impossible situation.

 

It is pointless trying to explain anything to someone who clearly has zero idea what they are talking about.