Thailand’s Ministry of Industry has asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to launch a special inquiry into Chinese-owned steel manufacturer Xin Ker Yuan, following its alleged refusal to cooperate in an investigation into rebar used in the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok.
According to Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen, spokesperson for the ministry, the company claimed it did not directly supply rebar to the construction site, stating that the distributor had already shut down. The firm also failed to explain the presence of 40,000 tonnes of electric arc furnace dust—also known as red dust—found on its premises. Due to the complexity of the case, the ministry has asked the DSI to handle the matter as a special case. Officials from both agencies will visit the site on April 11 to collect more steel samples for testing.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that recovery crews would use heavy equipment and steel cutters to clear debris in zone E, focusing on reducing the mound of rubble. He confirmed that overnight rain had not disrupted operations but urged caution among workers. He also noted that over 10 bodies might still be trapped under zones B and C.
A religious ceremony involving 103 Buddhist monks was scheduled at the site to bless search teams and support victims’ families. As of April 10, 23 people are confirmed dead, nine are injured, and 71 remain missing.
General Chanatap Inthamara, chairman of the National Audit Council, stated that Auditor-General Monthien Charoenpol will speak publicly about the disaster after the Songkran holidays. Monthien has yet to comment since the March 28 collapse, but an internal memo advising staff to maintain unity without offering condolences sparked public outrage.
