Bangkok: Search for missing persons in the collapse of the State Audit Office building continues for the 43rd day, with additional human remains found, and the mission is expected to be completed next week.
According to Thai News Agency, Assoc. Prof. Thawida Kamolvech, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, revealed the progress of the search operation for the missing persons in the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General building. Rescue workers and experts from various agencies are still mobilizing to search for the bodies of the victims, who are expected to be in the basement of the Office of the Auditor General building. The operation managed to open almost all zones according to the plan. Yesterday, officials opened all 6 elevator shafts, 4 of which were opened, with 2 remaining in Zones B and C. These are elevator boxes used by firefighters and freight elevators and are expected to be opened today. Although no additional missing persons were found, human body parts were discovered. In Zone B, K9 dogs were employed to sniff and identify coordinates where the missing persons' bodies might be located. When the area was opened, the scent indicated by the dogs led to a place where a large amount of food was found. A dditional items such as bags and pieces of clothing belonging to the victims were also discovered.
It is anticipated that all zones will be opened by tomorrow, allowing detailed searches to continue. There are still 28 heavy machinery vehicles actively working to open the area, although the machinery will be less powerful. Even after the entire area is opened, piles of soil and cement remain.
Once the area opening process is complete, forensic officers will investigate the facts with the BMA providing machinery support. The opening of all zones is based on the assumption that the missing persons' bodies have been found. While only a few human body parts were discovered, they could be reassembled to confirm identities. Once the entire area is opened, the soil will be leveled to facilitate evidence collection by the officers. The search operation for the missing persons is expected to conclude within the next week. Identification of more than 300 human body parts at the Police General Hospital's forensic department will continue, even after the search operation ends.
Bangkok authorities have revealed that the number of missing people has decreased to 7 after police determined that 4 individuals were not in the Office of the Auditor General building at the time of the incident. They were daily wage earners whose names were on the list but did not come to work. The reduction in the number of victims from the joint command center awaits the withdrawal of complaints by the relatives of the 4 missing people with the police.
The identities of the 89 deceased have been initially confirmed. However, identification of the human body parts found is still pending to determine if they belong to the remaining missing persons. The identification process requires time, as the examination of parts, such as bones, must be thorough. If only small parts are found, there may not be enough material for examination.