Bangkok: It is anticipated that by tomorrow, the height of the remains of the State Audit Office building will be reduced to the first floor, with the basement area also expected to be opened up. This development comes as a significant step in the ongoing rescue and recovery operations, where it is expected that additional people may be found trapped.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Suriyachai Rawiwan, Director of the Bangkok Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, has provided updates on the demolition progress of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) building. On April 26, officials discovered a dead body in Zone D on the 5th or 6th floor and found five more remains. Currently, forensic science is being awaited to confirm whether these remains constitute a complete body.
The removal of concrete debris and steel bars is now complete, with the structure's height reduced to about 2.57 meters above the first floor. However, challenges persist due to the concrete floor below, which remains intact, necessitating additional mechanical power to cut through the steel embedded in the concrete slabs. To address this, officers will employ a backhoe with a hammer drill, and two more of these vehicles will be added on April 28. Concurrently, the vehicles used for scooping will be replaced with hammer drills, and the personnel for steel cutting will be increased. The military is also set to cut the steel in Zone B.
Tomorrow marks the one-month anniversary of the incident, and officials remain committed to their tasks. By following the outlined plan, it is believed that the building's height can be successfully reduced to the first floor. On April 26, officials managed to open the area in front of Zones A and B, and efforts will soon focus on opening Zone C in a U shape, allowing work on both the front and sides simultaneously.
During recent operations, officers found holes around the collapsed building structure. A backhoe was utilized to dig these holes, which were then discovered to connect the parking garage to the collapsed building rather than being basement holes. Observations made with Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, revealed that most building debris had collapsed into the basement, with the debris center descending from the first floor, now over 4 meters high. This area is expected to potentially contain more bodies of trapped individuals.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation acknowledged the impact of opening traffic in front of the incident scene on the work. In response, officials have adjusted their methods by increasing nighttime wreckage removal. The latest total count of victims stands at 62 dead, 32 missing, and 9 injured.