SAO victim compensation payments begin

The Interior Ministry will begin distributing compensation of 100,000 baht per victim to families affected by the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building. The first round of disbursements is on Friday.

- WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

As of yesterday, the official death toll had risen to 44, with nine injured and 50 people still missing from a total of 103 individuals reported at the scene.

Efforts to locate missing persons under the rubble continue, with authorities focusing on Zone C, where most victims were believed to be trapped.

Deputy Bangkok governor Tavida Kamolvej and Suriyachai Rawiwan, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, yesterday offered an update on search and recovery operations.

Intensive work on Monday night led to the discovery of two more bodies and 24 body parts, which have been sent for forensic identification, they said.

One additional victim was confirmed yesterday morning through DNA matching, raising the confirmed death count to 44.