Authorities have recovered the partial remains of 18 individuals from the debris of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok, as search and recovery operations continued through April 19. The collapse, which occurred on March 28, has prompted increasing scrutiny over possible structural flaws and allegations of corruption.
According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the remains were sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute for identification. Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, confirmed the findings. The BMA has also coordinated with the Thai Embassy in Myanmar to obtain DNA samples from relatives of missing Burmese nationals—97 sets have been collected so far.
Meanwhile, rebar samples collected from the wreckage have failed quality assurance tests conducted by the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand. Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen, spokesman for the Industry Ministry, stated that 12mm, 20mm, and 32mm steel bars did not meet standards set by the Thailand Industrial Standard Institute (TISI). Additional testing is underway on 40 sections of eight different rebar sizes taken from the site on April 11. If deficiencies are confirmed, manufacturers—such as the Chinese firm Xin Ke Yuan, previously cited—could face license revocation and plant closures.
Public dissatisfaction has grown, with the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) urging the government to address unresolved questions. ACT president Mana Nimitmongkol criticized Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s April 18 statement for lacking specifics and failing to acknowledge possible corruption. In a letter posted on the ACT website, Mana pressed for clarity on issues such as structural design standards, the roles of supervisors and contractors, and the integrity of materials used. He called for answers by April 28 to restore public trust.
Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, which had been fully closed since the incident, saw two lanes reopened on April 20 to ease traffic. Recovery teams continue clearing debris from the remaining blocked lanes. Officials, including Deputy Bangkok Governor Tavida Kamolvej, have been involved in coordinating DNA collection and site operations.
