BANGKOK, May 11th, 2025 — The grueling search and recovery operation at the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok has officially concluded, authorities announced today, marking the end of a nearly six-week effort to locate victims of the devastating March 28 earthquake. Emergency crews have fully cleared the site, bringing closure to one of the deadliest structural collapses in Thailand’s recent history.
The major earthquake that struck Myanmar and sent tremors to Bangkok on March 28th caused the under-construction SAO building to collapse, trapping scores of workers. Of the 109 construction workers initially reported missing, 89 have been confirmed dead, and nine were rescued alive in the minutes following the disaster. Four individuals believed to be missing were later found alive, having not been at the site on the day of the collapse. Seven sets of remains, however, remain unidentified.
Suriyachai Rawiwan, Director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, confirmed that the final phase of the operation focused on accessing all six elevator shafts in Zone B of the site. On May 10, a team of 57 personnel, supported by five K9 units, conducted a meticulous final sweep of the area. The effort yielded only a skull fragment and two small bone fragments, with no additional bodies recovered.
Debris Removal and Ongoing Investigation
With the search concluded, attention has shifted to debris removal. The rubble, including a towering mound that once stood at 9.94 meters, is being transported to a temporary holding area on State Railway property. Crews are working to reduce the mound to a safer height of 6 meters while continuing to scan for any overlooked remains.
Forensic police and medical examiners are now tasked with identifying the seven unidentified victims through DNA analysis, a challenging process given the absence of intact bodies. Authorities expect this process to take weeks, as families await answers.
The SAO site is set to be formally handed back to the agency on May 15. Following the handover, police will seal off both the collapsed site and the debris storage area to preserve evidence for an ongoing investigation into the cause of the collapse. Preliminary reports suggest that structural weaknesses and possible construction violations may have contributed to the disaster, though a full report is not expected for several months.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences in a statement, saying, “The loss of so many lives is a tragedy that will stay with us. We are committed to ensuring justice for the victims and preventing such a disaster from happening again.”
As the city begins to heal, the focus now turns to supporting the families of the deceased and ensuring accountability for the collapse. The sealed-off site will remain a somber reminder of the lives lost until the investigation provides answers and a path forward.
