As the sun began to rise on Friday morning, the United SAR K9 search and rescue team set out on their mission with an unwavering determination to bring everyone back to their families. A staggering feat amidst a sea of discarded cement and steel bars, all left in the wake of the State Audit Office building’s collapse. This day was about hope, about ensuring no one remained lost in the debris. (Photo: United SAR K9)
In the aftermath of the catastrophe, the Royal Thai Police’s Disaster Victim Identification Centre has played a critical role in channeling chaos into order. A total of 33 individuals have been identified following the tragic collapse during the recent earthquake. Pol Maj Gen Wathee Assawutmangkul, who serves as the torchbearer for the Office of Police Forensic Science, announced a mission to confirm these identities. Each triumph brings solace to grieving families yearning for closure as their loved ones are prepared for their final journeys home.
Given the enormity of the task, data on missing persons has been meticulously compiled alongside DNA samples from no fewer than 97 relatives. This precious information is matched against the remains painstakingly delivered to the Office of Police Forensic Science. The detective work doesn’t stop there. Verification includes the deployment of fingerprint analysis, dental records, DNA testing, and even distinct physical characteristics.
The figures are staggering: between March 29 and Thursday, 41 bodies and a morass of 96 body parts have been processed through the unforgiving gears of forensic science. Yet from this overwhelming sea of despair, 42 cases have emerged in the identification system with 33 confirmed identifications: a mix of 22 Thai nationals, 10 from Myanmar, and one hailing from Cambodia. Families have been notified, and the solemn preparations for honoring those who’ve been taken too soon are underway.
The scientific process resembles a morbid puzzle; fingerprints are matched, remnants are reassembled, DNA is meticulously extracted from bone samples. Each part of the process demands patience and precision, occasionally taking an additional couple of days to ensure the extracted DNA can be compared to family records. Pol Maj Gen Assawutmangkul himself attested, “Earlier on, a fingerprint verification was enough to release bodies swiftly. But as decomposition sets in and remains become fragmented, an intricate reconstruction process has become our guiding principle.”
In particular instances like that of undocumented workers, coordinated efforts with Myanmar’s Embassy sees DNA samples collected as far as abroad. Some families remain in a bittersweet limbo, awaiting the recovery of their kin still trapped beneath the rubble. Just like that heart-wrenching Thursday when two families stepped forward to collect their loved ones.
Stories like Ms. Boonsong Muansuk’s emerge as heartbreaking echoes of personal loss. She came to claim the remains of her son, Wittaya Sitsri, who had been working in Bangkok while she lived in Si Sa Ket province. “New Year’s Day was our last meeting,” she confides, recalling a time when everything was blissfully untouched by catastrophe. The dreadful news of his demise, initially kept from her as a shield, eventually arrived through neighbors. Not a morsel of food had graced her lips since as worry became her unwelcome companion. Fate dealt its cruelest irony on her son’s birthday, when confirmation of his identity shattered her tenuous hope. A poignant farewell awaits him at Wat Phothinimit in Thon Buri district, preceding his ashes’ journey to their northeastern homeland.
The operation itself is an enormous undertaking. Ekwaranyu Amrapal, the animated spokesperson for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), provided a glimpse into the colossal task at hand: the precision reduction of the collapsed edifice’s towering debris, akin to giants rolling stones from ancient tales. “From a daunting height of 26 metres, we’ve whittled it down to 12.45 metres by Friday morning,” he shared. Strategies have shifted, with volunteer teams, military muscle, and BMA staff wielding gas torches to slice steel structures, allowing operations to unfurl across multiple points simultaneously.
The logistical ballet doesn’t stop there. Truck traffic responsible for carting away debris has surged from 14 to 22 vehicles since Thursday, resulting in an astonishing leap from 100 to 300 daily journeys. Every journey brings us closer to clarity, every ounce of steel and concrete painstakingly carted away marking progress. Areas have been prepared to house the mass of debris, a testament to the monumental task of rebuilding and recovery.
Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, shed light on initial setbacks, such as the battle with the steel framework. Progress, however, has found its rhythm with current techniques employing gas torches in unison. “Clearing debris rapidly is imperative,” he asserts, with each victory over debris growing more resolute as the end-of-month finish line approaches. Hope continues to rise, even amidst ongoing operations, as dedicated teams sought and found 44 dead bodies, with nine injured and another 50 still unaccounted for as of Friday.
The BMA’s Health Department has deployed a vigilant legion from the Public Health Disease Control Office, Environmental Health Office, and Chatuchak District Office. Their mission? To reign in environmental quality and maintain public health. Innovations like sodium hypochlorite treatment and insecticides have become routine warriors in the battle against contamination, tirelessly at work until May’s horizon.
As soil testing routines march on under the Environmental Health Office, partnerships with the Pollution Control Department and Drainage and Sewerage Department ensure stringent monitoring of wastewater for both heavy metal contamination and microbiological analysis. Every layer of safety, every precaution is needed to hold back the tide of risk and ensure the safety of Bangkok’s citizens.
Still, lingering questions demand answers. An ongoing investigation scrutinizes the circumstances surrounding the SAO’s collapse. Pol Maj Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, leads the charge, with 117 individuals drawn into the inquiry. A tapestry of voices weave narratives of the past—survivors, witnesses, family members, and professionals linked to design and construction all add tapestry’s layers.
Among the troves of evidence, forensic teams from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) collected 193 steel bars and 36 concrete samples to uncover the story written in stone and steel. Summonses have been thrust upon the parties entangled in this tragedy, compelling answers from all corners of the construction process. Even Patiwat Sirithai, major shareholder of PN Synchroline Company, circled back into this web of accountability, with an April 21 appointment on the investigative calendar.
In tandem with forensic and engineering experts, investigators forge ahead, tilting their compass points toward the invisible cause hidden beneath the catastrophe. It is a mission relentless and resolute. A mission of seeking answers, of honoring the lost, of rebuilding a community stronger and wiser than before.
This disaster is absolutely heartbreaking. We rely on buildings to keep us safe, and when they collapse, it shakes our faith in infrastructure.
I agree, but isn’t it also the responsibility of the construction companies to ensure that everything is up to code? This seems like negligence to me.
Exactly! There should be stricter penalties for these companies, especially if they cut corners to save money.
Absolutely, Chris. Stricter regulations might prevent such tragedies. People should never have to fear their workplaces or homes.
While the rescue efforts are commendable, there should be a thorough investigation into why the building collapsed in the first place. We need to get to the root of this issue to prevent future tragedies.
I can’t help but think about the families of the victims. They must be going through a living hell right now, waiting for news about their loved ones.
Yeah, it’s unimaginable. And with so many bodies unidentifiable at first, the wait must be agonizing.
Indeed, and the process of identifying bodies sounds so complicated and gruesome. I hope they find solace soon.
I think there’s more to this story. Governments often cover up these incidents to protect certain interest groups. Keep digging, people!
Don’t you think that’s a bit far-fetched? Corruption might be a factor, but it’s likely just a structural failure.
sometimes limiting yourself to rationality will prevent you from comprehending, the truly irrationality of the terroristic actions of entities responsible for some of the most unfair epically tragic acts of terror imaginable. Events that when viewed by most of us down here in the trenches of reality below the law, can’t even fathom the evil that could possibly be responsible for the blatant disregard for human life. I know it’s terrifying to consider that something as awful as this event and many many many others like it, could possibly be an orchestrated deliberate intensionall act of a group of threat actors in pursuit of an agenda. An agenda most likely fueled by greed, corruption and a struggle for global power as we uncontrollably plummet headfirst to the end of existence as we know it. Those responsible delusionally unaware of or indifferent to their sealed fate in a karmic debt that will follow them for eternity.
The environmental and health measures being taken by the BMA are crucial. It’s good they’re focusing on public health amidst this chaos.
Yes, but I wonder how effective these measures are. It’s a massive disaster; they need to invest properly to avoid long-term damage.
As a construction worker, this hits hard. We work with these materials every day, and safety should always be the top priority.
I wonder how the use of technology could prevent similar incidents. Maybe drones or AI could help monitor structural integrity.
Great point! Technology could definitely play a role. Predictive analytics could catch issues before they become disasters.
But let’s not rely solely on tech. Routine physical inspections are irreplaceable and should be prioritized.
The dedication of the SAR K9 teams is inspirational. They’re true heroes risking their lives to save others amidst such destruction.
SAR dogs are amazing! They deserve all the praise and maybe some extra treats too. Such brave souls.
Beyond the disaster, it’s important we think about the accountability of the people in charge. This can’t be allowed to happen again. Holding responsible parties accountable might prevent future occurrences.
While accountability is important, let’s focus on restoring and rebuilding for now. People need help immediately.
Why can’t we do both, Ron? Rebuilding the physical and ensuring justice goes hand in hand.
How reliable is the forensic process? With so many bodies and fragments, mistakes can happen in identification.
I feel for Ms. Boonsong and all the parents who lost their children in this tragedy. No parent should have to bury their child.
Indeed, Layla. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about all the families impacted. It’s just so tragic.
Before jumping to conclusions, we need to see the results of the investigation. Hasty judgments can cloud the truth.
The response to the earthquake reminds me of historical disaster recoveries. It’s always a combination of tragedy and human resilience. Someday, this will be a lesson in collaboration and engineering improvements.
The use of drones and AI in monitoring structural health sounds promising. It’s a fine blend of technology and resilience in disaster management.