Search Narrows to Lift Shaft
Search and rescue crews have zeroed in on the lift shaft of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, as hopes of locating survivors shift to recovering those still unaccounted for. The confirmed death toll now stands at 47, with dozens more feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The renewed focus follows reports from survivors who say many colleagues took refuge in stairwells between the 14th and 18th floors as the building began to shake. Rescue workers have since recovered several bodies from the lift shaft area, and believe that more victims may be concentrated there.
Latest Recovery Efforts
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, speaking from the scene, confirmed that six bodies were retrieved in the latest phase of the search. “Time is critical,” he said. “We’re concentrating resources where we have the strongest indications of trapped individuals.”
Structural Concerns Emerge
Meanwhile, questions are mounting over the structural integrity of the 18-storey government building. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that early assessments point to a possible fault in the lift shaft’s design, which may have contributed to the rapid collapse during the recent earthquake.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. More updates to follow as the situation develops.
