An anti-corruption watchdog had flagged to authorities irregularities it found in the construction of a Bangkok skyscraper before it collapsed in an earthquake last week, killing at least 12 people, the head of the group told Reuters. Initial tests of materials gathered at the site, meanwhile, indicated the presence of substandard steel among the wreckage of the 30-storey structure, according to industry ministry officials, who added that further analysis was required.

Rescuers were continuing search and rescue efforts on Monday for around 75 people feared still trapped under the rubble of the unfinished tower, which was being built for Thailand's State Audit Office by a Chinese company and a Thai construction firm. The government has announced an investigation into the cause of the collapse of the skyscraper, the only Bangkok building to completely crumble when a 7.7 magnitude quake struck central Myanmar on Friday and rattled neighbouring countries. [...] Construction of the building began in 2020 and is being carried out by a joint venture between Italian Thai Development PCL and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd, a local unit of China's state-owned China Railway Group. Italian Thai Development and China Railway Group did not immediately comment on either the watchdog's comments or the industry ministry's steel tests when contacted by Reuters. [...]

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra ordered government agencies on Saturday to investigate the root cause of the building collapse within one week. The official Thai investigation is looking into the construction plan, the standard of the material used as well as possible unsafe actions during the construction of the building. [...]