86 confirmed dead, more evidence of cause of SAO building collapse sought

Officials in charge of discovering the cause of the State Audit Office building collapse went to the site to collect more evidence today, as the search for the last eight missing workers continues.

By yesterday, 86 people have been confirmed dead.

Officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Department of Public Works, Town and Country Planning, forensics officers and specialists in structural engineering from Kasetsart University went to the site yesterday, to collect samples of cement slab and rebar for further tests.

A DSI officer said that investigators have questioned Somchai Sapyen, the project manager of the PKW joint venture, whose name was mentioned in the document concerning a design change of the core lift shaft.

Somchai has been quoted as saying that he was not the only one who decided to change the design. He claimed that he knew all the documented details of the change, adding that the changes were acknowledged by all parties involved in the construction contracts.