Bangkok: Relatives paid homage to sacred objects in an effort to assist in the rescue of those trapped under the collapsed Office of the Auditor General building. Entering the 12th day of the search mission, the relatives of missing persons performed rituals this morning, hoping to expedite the rescue of individuals still beneath the rubble.
According to Thai News Agency, officials continue to employ backhoes and heavy machinery to dismantle and clear the area around the collapsed building. This ongoing mission, initiated 12 days ago following an earthquake, aims to locate and rescue missing persons trapped within the debris. Yesterday afternoon, a large machine uncovered a hole above Zone C, located behind the building. Despite efforts to rescue individuals by descending through the hole, no missing persons were found.
Subsequently, heavy machinery was deployed to drill deeper into the site, with the aid of a camera to explore the area. Clothing belonging to a missing person was discovered, prompting further action. The machinery facilitated access, allowing a rescue team to extract the bodies of four deceased individuals from Zone C. These individuals were previously unidentified and are believed to have been crushed by the building.
Efforts today involved coordinating with a 1,000-ton crane to support an additional vehicle, which will assist in lifting large concrete slabs. This is expected to accelerate the demolition and search operations for missing persons. In Zones AB and D, military and police dogs were deployed to conduct another search following the use of heavy machinery to clear the area. Rescue teams marked any suspicious spots for further investigation.
This morning, relatives of workers whose bodies remain trapped in the building brought incense sticks to pay respects to local spirits and sacred objects at the construction site. They sought assistance in locating the bodies of their relatives. One relative, whose younger sister and mother were involved in the construction of the State Audit Office building, expressed their hope for a swift recovery of their relatives' bodies, despite acknowledging the grim reality of the situation.