Bangkok: The area around the collapsed Office of the Auditor General has been completely cleared, and no additional bodies have been discovered.
According to Thai News Agency, the Director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation confirmed that the site has been fully cleared. However, the forensic examination of over a hundred pieces of body parts is still awaited for the identification of the remaining seven victims. The area is scheduled to be returned on May 15, after which police will seize it for further investigation.
Mr. Suriyachai Rawiwan, Director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office of Bangkok, reported progress on the search for missing persons related to the building incident. The operation to open the last area of the elevator shaft, below the basement floor, was completed, with all six shafts opened and no bodies or body parts found. The search area has been fully opened, and no additional victims were discovered. Checking of body parts in the cement debris continues, with the debris being moved to a cement pile. A K-9 team and search team conduct daily inspections.
During the evening operation, a piece of a victim's skull was found in the cement pile. The next morning, a team of 57 officers and five K-9 units discovered two more pieces of bone. The search for victims' bodies concluded yesterday, with the remaining task of moving cement fragments from the building to be completed within two to three days. The current cement pile, 9.94 meters high, poses a slide risk, and a backhoe will be used to reduce its height to approximately six meters. This will allow for more thorough checks for any remaining victim pieces.
Mr. Suriyachai confirmed the area would be returned by May 15. The Chatuchak District Office has informed the State Audit Office in advance. Post-return, a meeting with police is planned, and investigators will continue to secure the area. CCTV systems will remain active for police use. Mr. Suriyachai noted that insurance company representatives inspected the site with police, following required procedures for entry.
He also confirmed that machinery on site remains operational, now focusing on moving cement and steel. Although the area is cleared, small debris pieces may remain, pending forensic examination results of the body parts found.