Bangkok Building Collapse Tied to Construction and Design Flaws

Thai investigators concluded that flaws in the design and construction methods caused the collapse of a partially built Bangkok building that killed at least 89 people during the March 28 earthquake, according to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

An investigation by a government agency and three universities found that the elevator and stairwell walls — key structures meant to absorb shear force — were improperly designed and built, Paetongtarn said at a press briefing Monday. She added that the quality of steel, concrete and other materials met required standards, disputing earlier reports that substandard steel bars had been used.