"Dr. Joe" rushed to inspect the collapsed building at Mo Mee Intersection and urged Bangkok authorities to take firm action to overhaul the capital's safety system. Amorn revealed inspection results showing damaged steel anchor points and expressed concern that neighboring buildings are at risk of further collapse.
On 20 June 2026, Chaiwat Sathawornwijit, Bangkok gubernatorial candidate from the People’s Party, accompanied by Professor Amorn Pimanmas, President of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand and part of the People’s Party Bangkok management team, visited the site of the old building collapse at Mo Mee Intersection in Samphanthawong district. They assessed the situation and expressed condolences to the families affected by this tragic accident.
Chaiwat stated that this incident clearly reflects how Bangkok residents’ lives are precarious every day. Initial data indicates that the collapsed section was the balcony structure extending beyond the main building. According to the Building Control Act, Bangkok’s inspectors or civil engineers have the authority to inspect and order owners of old buildings to urgently reinforce their structures. If owners ignore this, Bangkok can carry out repairs itself and then reclaim the costs to ensure public safety.
Chaiwat proposed a three-dimensional approach to guarantee safety in the capital: first, construction—mandate disclosure of CCTV footage from construction sites to monitor safety measures and require public disclosure of private insurance contracts so victims can claim compensation immediately without court delays; second, infrastructure—accelerate surveys of underground cavities across Bangkok that cause road subsidence and building settlement; third, disaster preparedness—conduct annual earthquake drills, prepare specialized rescue teams, and systematically assess the structural integrity of high-rise buildings.
Meanwhile, Professor Amorn Pimanmas, President of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand, disclosed results from the inspection of the collapsed balcony structure. Beyond the problem of rusted reinforcement steel, engineers found a critical issue: the anchor points connecting the balcony to the main building were insufficient and used only round steel bars for fastening. This reduced the load-bearing capacity as the building aged, creating three combined factors (old building, rust, insufficient anchors) that led to the collapse.
Professor Amorn concluded by warning that Bangkok must urgently send officials to analyze the remaining structure’s strength to determine if it remains safe. Authorities should also expand inspections to all adjacent shophouses on the same plane, as they are old buildings constructed with similar techniques, posing a risk of repeated collapse at any time.