Thailand has declared an end to the search operation at the site of a partially constructed Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed following a March 28 earthquake, resulting in the deaths of numerous construction workers, the city’s governor announced on Tuesday.
The 30-story State Audit Office tower was the only building in the Thai capital to collapse from the tremors caused by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar approximately 1,020 km (635 miles) away.
An investigation is currently underway to determine why the building collapsed so readily while other structures in the city remained intact.
Earthquakes and tremors of this magnitude are exceptionally rare in Thailand, and the quake triggered widespread panic in Bangkok, bringing the city to a standstill for much of the day.
Authorities have recovered 89 bodies from the rubble, and seven individuals remain missing, making it one of the deadliest accidents of its kind in Thailand, with a total of 96 fatalities. In Myanmar, the earthquake claimed the lives of over 3,700 people.
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The six-week operation in Bangkok involved hundreds of personnel, including international rescue teams, working around the clock. Search dogs and heavy equipment were utilized, but the mission was significantly hampered by the sheer scale and weight of the debris.
“I want to thank all those who helped,” Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittupunt told reporters. “This was a life-changing incident for many and a lesson.”
Authorities have identified 86 of the deceased, and forensic tests are being conducted on 100 out of 313 fragments of human remains recovered from the site, according to police.
The investigation is focusing on those involved in the construction of the building, which commenced in 2020.
A Thai anti-corruption watchdog reported that it had previously alerted authorities to irregularities in the construction of the skyscraper before its collapse. Industry officials have also indicated that initial tests of materials at the site revealed the presence of substandard steel.
