BANGKOK, Thailand – Search and recovery efforts continue at the site of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, where rescue teams have now entered their tenth day of operations following the March 28 earthquake in Myanmar. The under-construction structure, intended to exceed 30 floors, suffered a total collapse after the quake, resulting in numerous fatalities and leaving many still unaccounted for beneath the debris.
In the early hours of April 6, authorities confirmed the discovery of human remains in Zone C, including a severed finger. Shortly after, rescue personnel from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation recovered two bodies. One has been identified as male, while the second remains unidentified. Both have been transferred to the Police General Hospital’s forensic unit for examination, and families are being contacted to arrange religious funeral rites.
Operations were temporarily paused around 1:05 a.m. after a structural column in Zone B collapsed further, raising safety concerns. Rescue teams were withdrawn from the immediate area to reassess the risk before resuming work. Zone B is now the primary area of focus due to its high-risk profile and signs of possible human presence.
By morning, K-9 search units resumed operations in Zone B alongside emergency crews. These dogs, trained to detect human scent beneath the rubble, are instrumental in identifying locations that machinery cannot safely access. Their deployment follows overnight efforts to drill through concrete and expand access routes.
Teams continue to work under challenging conditions, including unstable structures, poor air quality, and the constant threat of further collapse. The operation is coordinated by multiple agencies, including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, forensic teams, and Thai and international search-and-rescue units. Efforts remain ongoing and critical. (NNT)
