"Audit office acknowledges fatal flaws in building" Bangkok Post, 26 December 2025

The State Audit Office (SAO) issued an acknowledgement on Friday of the construction and design flaws that led to the collapse of its 30-storey building and the deaths of 95 people after an earthquake on March 28.

The office said a fact-finding committee that it set up up two days after the quake found the collapse began in the lower part of the building, specifically floors 1-4, due to shear forces caused by the temblor acting on the shear walls.

The walls did not meet the required standard, according to the test results on some concrete samples, it said. Moreover, the detailed plans, as well as the embedment length of the reinforcing steel, did not comply with applicable laws.

Prosecutors in August indicted 23 suspects including the head of Italian-Thai Development Plc and a Chinese state-owned construction firm for violations that led to the collapse.

They are facing charges relating to the design, supervision and construction of the building in violation of required standards, causing danger to others and resulting in loss of life.

As well, the DSI has submitted some cases to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further investigation.

As many as 70 civil servants could be implicated in bid-rigging, the DSI has said.