A Thai court has issued 17 arrest warrants for individuals linked to the collapse of a 30-storey skyscraper under construction in Bangkok, following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck neighbouring Myanmar in March 2025.
Key Details:
- The collapsed tower was intended for the State Audit Office and was situated near Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market.
- 89 bodies have been recovered from the rubble; 7 remain missing.
- Over 400 construction workers were present during the collapse.
- The project cost over 2 billion Thai baht (~$59 million USD).
Arrests & Investigations:
- Arrest warrants target individuals involved in the design, construction, and supervision of the building.
- Among them is Premchai Karnasuta, former president of Italian-Thai Development PLC, one of the country’s largest construction firms.
- Investigators reportedly found structural flaws, including in the building’s lift shaft.
- Official findings on the cause of the collapse have not yet been released.
Context:
- The quake on 28 March, centered in Myanmar, killed over 3,000 people and injured 4,500+.
- Despite strong tremors felt in Bangkok, other buildings remained intact—highlighting possible deficiencies in the tower’s design or construction.
