Probe swings into action

The government has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse of the 30-storey building at the centre of city rescue efforts following Friday's quake.

- APINYA WIPATAYOTIN, WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

Critics have questioned the standards of a Chinese contractor involved, and raised concerns over the quality of steel and building materials used. An investigation team from the Ministry of Industry has collected samples of construction materials from the site of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak district, said Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen, secretary to Industry Minister Akanat Promphan, yesterday.

The team is focusing on the quality of steel bars used in fortifying concrete polls, beams and foundation structures in particular, as substandard steel bars could have led to the collapse, said Mr Pongpol.

Substandard steel bars normally break, rather than bending to absorb powerful forces released by an earthquake, he added.