Thailand works to restore global trust after Myanmar quake
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra underscored Thailand's commitment to restoring its image and ensuring public confidence, noting that a thorough investigation into the project's approval, design and construction materials is underway.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra listens to a briefing by a team of Israeli rescuers who are part of an international contingent working at the collapsed building site in Bangkok. (Photo: Bangkok Post)
Bangkok (VNA)♔ - The Thai government is stepping up efforts to restore global confidence following the impact of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has made the statement at the inauguration of the Thailand Investment and Expatriate Service Centre (TIESC), an event attended by numerous foreign nationals.
In her speech, Paetongtarn mentioned the collapse of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building during the earthquake, saying it was due to technical errors affecting that particular building while reassuring that no other buildings in Bangkok were at risk of collapsing as they adhered to earthquake-resistant standards.
She underscored Thailand's commitment to restoring its image and ensuring public confidence, noting that a thorough investigation into the project's approval, design and construction materials is underway.
Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that the situation in the capital had almost fully stabilised.
He said normal traffic had resumed throughout Bangkok, including major expressways and metro lines, except for minor congestion near the site of the collapsed building in Chatuchak district and areas with crane removal operations in Bang Sue district.
Chadchart also said that building inspections in the city are ongoing, with over 13,000 reports received. Many cases involve minor wall cracks, while two buildings have been deemed unsafe, affecting approximately 2,000 residents. Temporary shelters have been arranged for those in need, with corporate and government agencies assisting.
In another development, Italian-Thai Development PCL (ITD), a stakeholder in the ITD-CREC joint venture, the contractor for the collapsed SAO building, issued a statement expressing "deep regret" over the incident. The company pledged full cooperation with authorities and compensation for the families of the deceased and injured.
The ITD said it was confident that its other construction projects would not be affected.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Jungrungreangkit has not confirmed if the ITD would be blacklisted by the government but he did say that possible criminal charges are being considered./.
The deadly earthquake in Myanmar caused strong tremors in Bangkok, about 1,000 km south of the epicentre, while several other Thai provinces were also affected.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. in Myanmar Marcoluigi Corsi, reported that aid initiatives are proceeding smoothly without significant obstacles.
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The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
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The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
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