[CNA] Thai Engineering Prof on Construction Safety in Bangkok after Skyscraper Collapse
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natt Leelawat, from industrial engineering at 麻豆国产, spoke to CNA News about Thailand鈥檚 building code and earthquake readiness.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natt Leelawat emphasized that the recent skyscraper collapse in Bangkok has heightened public awareness of earthquake-resistant buildings. Bangkok鈥檚 high-rise lifestyle poses unique evacuation challenges, as existing safety points were designed for fires, not large-scale earthquakes, leading to traffic paralysis. Delayed SMS warnings further complicated the response, prompting the government to improve its alert system. While buildings constructed after 2007 follow earthquake-resistant standards, ongoing inspections categorize structures into safe (green), questionable (yellow), or unsafe (red). Authorities are also investigating reports of substandard steel in the collapsed building. The professor stressed that structural integrity should be prioritized over aesthetics in construction, as future earthquakes are inevitable.
