Two still missing after building collapsed in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Dec 17 (TNA) -- Authorities continued to search for the two people still missing after an 8-storey commercial building located in Soi Sukhumvit 87 collapsed during its demolition. Throughout last night, concerned authorities from both the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, and rescue volunteers, have worked at their best efforts to search for the two persons believed to still be trapped under the rubble of the building which crumpled to the ground Friday morning while being knocked down. By 3am this morning, rescue officials had turned to use small equipment to break through the 30-centimetre think concrete walls instead, in fear that heavy machinery could disrupt the structure of the building and cause further collapse. The two missing persons are reported to be a driver of a backhoe truck and is believed to have been caught inside the vehicle, while another is said to be a worker who was working near by to the truck. Engineers from the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) were sent, earlier today, to the scene to inspect the damages of the building in order to plan for a complete demolition. Two workers were reportedly killed by yesterday's tragic incident. The contractor responsible for the demolition has now been charged with negligence and involuntary manslaughter and could face no less than 10-year jail term and/ or a fine of no more than 20,000 baht. Authorities are now in pursuit of the engineer in charge of overseeing the destruction of the said building. Chairman of Advisers to Governor of Bangkok Vallop Suwandee, meanwhile, stressed that the most important thing right now is the rescuing of the two persons still trapped under the debris, noting that recuse canines are set to be used to help locate the missing workers. Reports said, right after the collapse of the building construction workers rushed out while four others were trapped under the debris. (TNA)