BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the findings of the 90-day investigation into the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) building. The probe concluded that the cause was due to unlawful design and construction practices, especially the substandard construction of the elevator and stairwell shafts. She confirmed that the findings will be forwarded to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the police, emphasizing that this issue must not be swept under the rug.
The PM noted that June 30 marked 90 days since the March 28 earthquake that led to the collapse. She said the investigation involved cooperation from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. Using advanced technology, they simulated the building’s response to the earthquake to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
The reports from all four institutions unanimously pointed to critical flaws in the building’s design and construction methods. Particular issues were found in the shear walls—specifically the elevator shaft and stairwell walls—which are supposed to resist lateral forces. While steel and general concrete used in the project met standard requirements, the actual concrete mix and construction practices were not up to standard for this particular project.
The Prime Minister noted that such construction flaws raised concerns about whether similar practices were being used in other buildings. Simulations confirmed that if the building had followed legal standards, it would have been significantly more resistant to seismic forces. She added that the modeling methods used in the investigation are also applied in the U.S. and Japan to assess building integrity during disasters.
To reassure the public, she confirmed that materials in other government projects have been strictly vetted and do not present similar issues. Within two weeks, a comprehensive report will be compiled and submitted to the DSI and the police for further legal action.
When asked who would take responsibility for the damages, the Prime Minister stated that the illegal design and construction methods were at fault, but the identification of specific individuals responsible would be up to the DSI and police to determine based on legal procedures.
She added that while the steel used was not problematic, experts confirmed that the concrete and how it was applied—such as thinning sections inappropriately—did not comply with regulations. She initially had concerns about material quality across other projects, but findings showed this issue was specific to the collapsed building.
When asked whether the State Audit Office, as the procuring agency, should also be held accountable, the PM said that DSI and police would need to trace responsibility according to roles. She emphasized the importance of neutrality and letting the process run its course based on evidence.
In response to concerns about political influence interfering with the case, the PM affirmed the investigation will not be buried. “The public has not forgotten and has been waiting for answers. Now that we have them, it is time for due process,” she concluded. (TNA)
