Bangkok, Police are waiting for the results of the investigation from the Engineering Council before taking legal action against those involved in the crane collapse on Soi On Nut 86. The Prawet District Director has ordered the suspension of construction until it is safe. The initial cause is the loose pile foundation of the crane.
From the accident of a large construction crane in Soi On Nut 86 collapsing on workers, resulting in 2 deaths and 3 injuries this afternoon, Pol. Col. Sittichai Srisopacharoenrat, acting commander of Metropolitan Police Division 4, revealed that the supervisor of the construction has been questioned, while forensic officers have inspected the scene, including the structure, the load-bearing area, and the surrounding area. At present, no possibilities have been ruled out, such as the crane being unable to support the weight or the subsidence of the ground at the base. We must wait for the results of the inspection from the Engineering Council, which is expected to come in to insp
ect tomorrow (July 3).
For the two deceased at the scene, it is known that they were Thais, but the details cannot be disclosed. After the inspection of the scene is complete, all relevant persons and witnesses at the scene will be questioned in detail at Prawet Police Station. We will consider filing various related charges, which may include reckless action causing injury and death to others, but we must wait for clarity on what the mistake was.
While Mr. Dicha Kongsri, Director of Prawet District, revealed that there is currently an order to suspend the project to control waste by burning to produce electricity until it is safe. As for the cause from the inquiry that 4 out of 5 piles of the crane foundation came loose, causing the crane to be unable to support the weight, causing the crane to tip over and collapse, the details of this part must wait for the police to thoroughly investigate the cause again. As for the damage survey, the Bangkok Environmental Office will have to thoroughly inspect the dama
ge again.
The injured include Mr. Phirawich, aged 28, and Mr. Itthiphon, aged 42, and 3. Mr. Rung, aged 54. The names of the two deceased have not yet been disclosed.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amorn Pimanmas, President of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand, revealed that the collapse of the construction crane was likely an overturning failure, which was observed from the steel frame and foundation detaching from the pile and falling onto the temporary office. The assumptions for the cause of the collapse could be as follows: 1. Insufficient steel between the pile and the foundation, including too little anchoring distance in the foundation; 2. The weight being lifted caused an overturning moment that exceeded the tensile strength of the steel dowels in the pile. This is still just a preliminary assumption. All detailed information must be collected in order to determine the real cause.
For the crane, it is considered a tower crane, which is a machine used to lift things in construction. The design of
the foundation and the connection between the foundation and the pile are important parts to resist the crane from falling over. Therefore, the law requires both mechanical and civil engineers to supervise and control the use of the crane, from design to control its use, to ensure safety. However, accidents still occur repeatedly. Tomorrow, the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand will inspect the area in the morning to find out the exact cause.
Source: Thai News Agency