Collapsed apartment building: Death toll rises to 14
The death toll from the collapse of an apartment building in Pathum Thani has risen to fourteen. The bodies of the last three Cambodian construction workers were pulled from the ruins shortly before midnight on Thursday.
The constructor of the building that collapsed like a house of cards on Monday has reported to the police. He is one of seven suspects who may be prosecuted for negligence. Four suspects were already arrested on Wednesday; they were released on bail on Thursday. Two others are still on the run: the client and a contractor.
Police have begun collecting construction materials to determine the cause of the disaster. Pieces of metal and concrete were collected by forensic experts after the rescue operation came to an end.
Another flat on the same construction site has been declared accessible only to authorized personnel until safety inspections are carried out. According to the deputy director general of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, the construction of both deviated from the blueprint.
Surachai Baojanya, an executive at client U Place Condotel, handed over 1 million baht to the governor of Pathum Thani yesterday in compensation for the victims and their families.
Workers who are slightly injured will receive 2000 baht each; the relatives of the dead 55.000 baht. The amount to be paid to the injured, who are in hospital, has yet to be determined based on the severity of their injuries. A total of 25 workers were injured.
The relatives of the dead are also entitled to benefits of 30.000 baht from the provincial Social Security Office (SSO) and 10.000 baht from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation. The SSO also allocates 300.000 baht for the costs of medical care for the injured.
(Source: Bangkok Post, August 16, 2014)
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News from Thailand – August 15
News from Thailand – August 14
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Apartment building under construction collapses: 4 dead, 19 injured