Thai Interior Minister Meets Chinese Ambassador to Address Bangkok Building Collapse Amid Earthquake Aftermath

The building, an under-construction 33-story tower intended to serve as the new headquarters for Thailand’s Office of the Auditor General, crumbled during the seismic event, leaving at least 17 people dead, 32 injured, and 83 still missing as of Sunday morning, according to the Erawan Medical Emergency Centre.

The structure, being built by China Railway No. 10 Co., Ltd., a Chinese state-owned enterprise, was the only skyscraper in Bangkok to collapse during the quake, raising immediate questions about its structural integrity despite being newly constructed.

The earthquake has wreaked havoc across the region, with a death toll exceeding 1,600 in Myanmar alone and destruction reported in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. Tremors were felt across Thailand, China, and India, but Bangkok, located far from the epicenter, experienced relatively moderate shaking. The isolated collapse of the Chatuchak building has fueled speculation and concern, particularly as more than 95% of buildings in Bangkok withstood the seismic impact with only minor damage, according to Anutin.

During the Sunday meeting, held just two days after the disaster, Anutin gave Thailand’s commitment to uncovering the cause of the collapse. “This building was newly constructed and should have been designed to withstand earthquakes,” he stated. “Thailand will quickly find out why it collapsed.” He announced the formation of an investigative committee, comprising engineers from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and other experts, tasked by the Prime Minister with delivering a report within seven days. The probe will look at the building’s architects, construction supervisors, and contractors, with a focus on whether substandard materials or deviations from approved plans contributed to the failure.

Ambassador Han Zhiqiang pledged full cooperation from the Chinese side, confirming that the contractor had been instructed to assist in the investigation. “The Chinese Embassy will work with the Thai government to ensure a fair process,” Han said, while also expressing condolences for the lives lost.

Rescue operations at the site continued into Sunday evening, with teams utilizing excavators, drones, and search-and-rescue dogs in a race against time to locate survivors within the critical 72-hour “golden window” for survival following the collapse.