BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced, on April 8, that the government will conduct a thorough investigation into the collapse of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building. She emphasized that someone must be held accountable and set a 90-day deadline to determine the cause. Four engineering institutes, along with the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, will work together to create a detailed model of the incident for full analysis.
Speaking after a one-hour briefing on the building collapse, the Prime Minister reassured the public that Thailand’s construction laws are designed to withstand earthquakes of similar magnitude. She stressed that buildings constructed in accordance with existing laws should not collapse, and that the incident raises concerns that must be fully examined from the planning stages onward. Site clearance at the collapse location is expected to take about a month before further structural evidence can be collected.
She stated that all government and private sector buildings will be reviewed to ensure they meet safety standards, especially regarding earthquake resilience. Any flaws or illegal actions uncovered during the process will result in legal consequences. The government is determined to increase transparency, and she insisted that the process must be both thorough and public-facing.
Addressing reports that a steel company allegedly threatened to push for the removal of the Industry Minister involved in the investigation, Paetongtarn responded firmly: “No company has the authority to remove a minister. That would be legally and procedurally inappropriate.” She also dismissed suggestions of lobbying to avoid prosecution, stating, “No one supports such practices. This is a serious issue and will be handled accordingly.”
She confirmed that while she hasn’t personally spoken to Italian-Thai or China Railway—the joint contractors on the project—any company involved in wrongdoing will be subject to scrutiny and potential legal action. (TNA)
