The death toll now stands at five following yesterday’s horrific crane accident in Bangkok, while the construction project’s engineer is facing potential charges.
At about 10am today, Col. Sompot Suwanjarat of the Bang Phong Phang Police Station led a team of expert engineers to investigate the wreckage of the Lumpini Park Riverine condominium construction site on Phra Ram 3 road in Bangkok’s Yan Nawa district.
Though police have already interviewed five witnesses, they have not yet determined the cause of the incident, said Col. Sompot. Officials are still awaiting examination results from the Police Scientific Crime Detection Division, reported Khaosod.
However, officials suspect negligence on the part of the building project’s engineer to be at least a contributing factor.
The accident occurred at about 1pm yesterday, when parts of a large construction crane broke off and crashed to the ground below.
Though four people were originally reported dead, one man — who was trapped on the top half of the towering crane and unable to climb down due to a broken leg — later died at the hospital due to severe blood loss, bringing the death toll to five.
Five others were also reportedly injured.
After a brief investigation of the wreckage, civil engineer Chulert Jitjurjun said the collapsed crane has been in use for many years and that its age may have played a factor.
Experts are also still looking into whether the crane was properly installed, reported Workpoint.
“If we conclude that it is, in fact, the fault of the engineer, we will issue a warning and revoke their license,” said Chulert.
“However, apart from a slight crack on the floor of the 12th floor, the building has not been affected by the accident,” he added.
As investigations continue, Yan Nawa district officers have ordered the site temporarily closed and for all construction work to be suspended for 30 days.
