Seventeen Arrest Warrants Issued in Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Investigation

Investigation uncovers serious design flaws as 17 individuals are sought for their roles in a tragic building collapse that resulted in numerous fatalities.

A Thai court has issued 17 arrest warrants for individuals connected to the construction of a skyscraper that collapsed during a significant earthquake in March. The 30-story building, intended for the State Audit Office, fell victim to a 7.7 magnitude quake that originated from Myanmar. In the aftermath, authorities reported the recovery of 89 bodies, while seven individuals remain missing.

Law enforcement is probing the circumstances surrounding the tower's collapse, asserting that those who received warrants were involved in the design, construction, and supervision processes of the structure, as reported by local outlets. Among the named individuals is Premchai Karnasuta, a prominent businessman and former chief of Italian-Thai Development PLC, which ranks among Thailand's largest construction companies.

As investigations progressed, reports surfaced regarding structural weaknesses identified in a lift shaft within the building. While the reasons behind the collapse are still under examination, footage from the event revealed high-rise buildings in Bangkok swaying alarmingly, as water cascaded from rooftops due to the seismic activity.

Despite tremors affecting the region, most buildings in Bangkok remained intact, except for the ill-fated construction project—a distinctive blue glass and steel tower located near Chatuchak market, a well-known tourist destination. The tower had been under construction for three years, with costs exceeding two billion Thai baht (approximately $59 million) before meeting its catastrophic end. At the time of the collapse, more than 400 workers were present on-site, prompting the deployment of drones, sniffer dogs, cranes, and excavators for rescue operations.