The death toll in Monday's Pathum Thani building collapse has climbed to 14 as authorities yesterday started collecting construction material for examination to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.
Jira Kanmun, left, an engineer for Plook Plang Co, which handled the construction of the condominium building in Pathum Thani that collapsed on Monday, turns himself in to Khlong 5 police yesterday. He was wanted on an arrest warrant for causing death and injury to others. Apichit Jinakul
Three bodies, all Cambodian nationals, were the latest to be pulled from the rubble of the collapsed condominium in Khlong Luang district shortly before midnight on Thursday.
Eleven bodies were retrieved from the ruins earlier. They were identified as Chettha Kamphuchat, Phiab Mongkhol, Sitthichoke Kaemmanee, Thanakorn Treemek, Danai Suksom, Klairung Thabkhonburi, Sunee Laowan, Natthamon Kokpae, Sithipan Kokpae, Thawatchai Suksom and Put Kokpae.
The bodies of the three Cambodian nationals found on Thursday were identified as Im Phreu, Phi and Oay.
A total of 25 people were injured in the collapse. Five remain in hospital.
Forensic investigators arrived at the site yesterday and gathered pieces of metal and concrete used in the construction for further examination after the rescue operation was called off, Pathum Thani governor Pongsathorn Sajjachonlaphun said.
Another building on the same construction site has been declared off-limits to unauthorised personnel pending safety inspections, he said.
Both structures differed from what was proposed in the construction plans, deputy director-general of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, Kiatisak Chantra, said after inspecting the site yesterday.
Meanwhile, Surachai Baojanya, chief executive officer of U Place Condotel, which owns the project, yesterday presented more than one million baht to the Pathum Thani governor as compensation for the victims and their families.
People who were slightly injured will be paid 2,000 baht each, while families of the dead will receive 55,000 baht each.
The amount to go to victims still in hospital will depend on the severity of their injuries.
The families of dead victims are also entitled to compensation of 30,000 baht each from the provincial Social Security Office (SSO) and a further 10,000 baht donated by the Poh Teck Tung Foundation.
The SSO will also provide 300,000 baht to the injured for their medical expenses.
Jira Kanmun, an engineer working for Plook Plang Co, which is in charge of the construction of the project, turned himself in to Khlong 5 police yesterday.
Mr Jira is one of seven suspects wanted on arrest warrants for causing death and injury to others.
He was later released on bail of 100,000 baht.
Mr Jira's lawyer, Thatchai Jaksukam, said the collapse had caused his client deep distress.
Four other suspects who were arrested on Wednesday were released on bail on Thursday.
Two other suspects are still at large. They are Kanyarat Heepthong, another project owner and Chanaichon Kerdthes a construction contractor. He is the son of Chalor Kerdthes, a former deputy police commissioner convicted of murder in a notorious jewellery theft case.