The Thai Interior Ministry will begin distributing financial compensation on Friday, April 18, to families affected by the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building, which left dozens dead and many others injured or missing.
Each family of those confirmed deceased in the SAO building collapse will receive 100,000 baht in compensation, as part of an initial disbursement by the Interior Ministry. The measure is part of broader efforts to support those impacted by the incident, which occurred amid ongoing concerns over building safety and emergency response in Bangkok.
As of Tuesday, April 15, officials reported 44 confirmed fatalities. Nine individuals were listed as injured, while 50 remained unaccounted for out of the 103 people initially believed to be present when the structure collapsed. Search and rescue teams continue to focus efforts in Zone C, an area where many of the victims are suspected to be trapped.
Progress has been made in recovery operations, including the discovery of two more bodies and 24 human remains during intensive searches on Monday night. These remains have been sent for forensic identification. One additional victim was confirmed through DNA testing on Tuesday morning, bringing the total death toll to 44.
Authorities have collected DNA samples from 91 relatives to assist with the identification process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is supporting outreach efforts to embassies and border checkpoints, especially in seeking information about missing individuals from Myanmar, who may have been present at the site.
On the ground, heavy machinery has been deployed to remove debris and twisted steel across the collapse zone. Gas cutters and specialized tools are being used to navigate the densely packed wreckage. Operations are paused intermittently to allow canine units to inspect key areas; search dogs are deployed three times daily to aid in locating the missing.
According to Deputy Bangkok Governor Tavida Kamolvej, compensation eligibility does not depend on whether the deceased was a household head. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has reported that, beyond the SAO collapse, more than 23,000 residents have filed for assistance related to earthquake damage. Chatuchak District registered the highest number of requests, followed by Huai Khwang, Bang Sue, Phasi Charoen, and Thon Buri.
District offices began conducting building inspections on April 10 under the BMA’s disaster relief regulations. However, many residents were away during the Songkran holiday. Those who have returned are encouraged to contact local offices to arrange assessments. Affected individuals have until April 27 to file claims, with all 50 district offices accepting applications during official working hours. Damage assessments will be reviewed by district committees, which will work with BMA’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to determine further assistance.
Among those present during the latest press briefing were Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej and Suriyachai Rawiwan, Director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
