Five bodies found in collapsed Chatuchak building, but retrieval remains risky

Five more bodies have been located under the rubble of the collapsed State Auditor’s Office building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak area, but it is still too dangerous for rescue teams to recover them, said Apiwat Chantanee of the Phetkasem Rescue Foundation today.

The bodies were located in zones B and C, he said. Rescue teams will meet again today, to plan the use of heavy machinery to lift the debris and reach the bodies.

A rescue team from Israel, who flew in yesterday to assist in the rescue and recovery operation, detected and located a body under the debris.

The ‘golden’ 72 hours, since the collapse last Friday of the building under-construction, has now passed, meaning the chance of finding more survivors is slim, “but we all continue to hope,” Apiwat said.

Today, Bangkok's Erawan Medical Emergency Centre reported the death toll at the Chatuchak site at 13.

Yesterday, Bangkok Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej said 75 people remained unaccounted for.