Partially collapsed gym should be torn down, say engineers
A badminton gymnasium in Nonthaburi’s Muang district that partially collapsed during Tuesday’s rainstorm should be completely torn down, officials from the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) said after a site inspection on Wednesday.
Some 30 parked cars and five nearby homes were damaged in the collapse.
The officials made the recommendation to the building owner due to the structural damage to the building, including cracks in weight-bearing beams.
EIT president Thanes Weerasiri led the team to inspect the site for more than an hour before allowing officials to remove the 30 damaged vehicles from under debris. There was concern that more heavy rain could further damage what is left of the building.
Earlier in the morning, Nonthaburi police chief Pol Maj General Surasak Prakkamakul led police investigators and local administrators to inspect the building in Soi Rewadee 55, and put up signs to bar the public from entering the area.
Officials also set up a tent where they can gather complaints and information from affected residents and car owners.
Building owner Suwat Niamprem, 58, told Pol Captain Supalak Phromwong that the building was empty when the collapse happened.
Suwat said the building was insured so he would wait for the insurance company to inspect the building and pay compensation, which he would use to compensate the owners of the damaged cars.
Chalongchai Reungsiri, 67, who rented a parking space for Bt1,200 a month, said he wanted the building owner to help repair the vehicle as he had third-class car insurance that would not cover the damage.
