The mound of debris from the collapsed SAO building has now been reduced from 26 metres to 20.5 metres high and is expected to be cleared this month. This will facilitate the recovery of any more bodies buried underneath, said Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt today.
He said that the search will continue for those still missing, and believed trapped in the remnants of the 24th to 29th floors, even though some private search and rescue teams may withdraw because they are needed elsewhere.
He said the city administration has about 500 personnel who will continue to work, until all the missing people are recovered and identified.
He asked relatives of any undocumented migrant workers among those still missing to provide DNA samples, to be taken by medical personnel for use in the identification process.
To date, the unofficial death toll has climbed to 40, with three more bodies recovered last night. 54 other people are still listed as missing.
