Death toll rises to 63 after Bangkok skyscraper collapse Search for missing continues

The number of fatalities following the collapse of an under-construction government building in Bangkok during an earthquake has risen to 63, according to the city’s administration.

One month after the disaster, which destroyed the 30-storey Office of the Auditor General, 31 people are still officially listed as missing, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Rescue teams remain engaged in the search operation and aim to complete the clearing of surface debris by the end of the month.

“If everything goes according to plan, we will soon be able to begin work on the basement level,” said Suriyachai Raviwan, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Efforts to locate survivors or recover bodies have been hampered by the scale of the destruction, with authorities warning that operations could take several more weeks.

Notably, on March 28, 2025, a 33-storey building under construction in Bangkok's Chatuchak district collapsed following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake originating in Myanmar. The building, intended to house the State Audit Office, was approximately 30% complete at the time of the disaster.

Fatalities included migrant workers from Myanmar and Cambodia, with 32 individuals still unaccounted for as of April 24. Rescue operations have been ongoing, with international assistance, including personnel from the United States and equipment from Israel, contributing to the efforts.

Investigations have been launched to determine the cause of the collapse. Preliminary findings suggest potential structural failures, with concerns raised about the quality of construction materials, particularly steel rods supplied by Xin Ke Yuan Steel, a Thai-Chinese company. The company has denied allegations of substandard materials, despite its operating license being previously suspended following a fatal factory fire in December.

The building was a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group. Thai authorities have arrested a Chinese executive associated with the project for allegedly using Thai nominees to operate illegally, and arrest warrants have been issued for three Thai shareholders.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, emphasizing the need to understand why this particular building collapsed while others remained intact. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev