Focus turns to lift shaft in hunt for collapse victims

>>Rescue teams are focusing on clearing rubble around the lift shaft of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building, where the bodies of around 30 missing individuals are expected to be found.

- WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

Several more bodies were recovered on Friday, raising the death toll to 47, with another 47 people still un accounted for.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt yesterday provided an update on the search at the disaster site, saying efforts are now focused on the lift shaft, where six bodies were recovered recently.

Based on a survivor's account, rescue teams believe that around 30 people may have been trapped in the fire escape between the 14th and 18th floors.

Crews have already reduced the height of the rubble in some zones from 26 metres to just 10-12m to make it match the height of the lift shaft, and are drilling deeper to locate more victims.