(April 8, 2025) – At the Incident Command Centre in the Chatuchak District Office, Assoc. Prof. Tavida Kamolvej, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, provided an update on the rescue operations following the earthquake.

She confirmed that the death toll had risen from 17 to 21 after additional bodies were recovered. Four more bodies were found in Zone C.

Regarding the progress of the operation, she explained that the search teams had made significant headway in Zone A, where they could access the site more effectively. The plan involves using an excavator in Zone D, aiming to establish a base at Point D2, which is close to the upper section of the building.

The technique used involves breaking concrete and cutting rebar. The target is to clear about five metres of debris from the top, as most of the bodies found recently have been in Zones B and C.

“It is believed that prior to the building’s collapse, around 20 to 30 workers were active on those floors,” she said, “Therefore, the rescue team is focusing on this area, as there was an existing void they had already drilled into.”

Tavida said the plan will continue until they are able to clear the debris above, allowing further access. Based on the analysis by the onsite officers and experts, as well as the building’s blueprints, it is expected that opening this section will reveal more bodies, she added.

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