Bangkok authorities plan citywide inspections of old buildings after the canopy collapse that killed an elderly man in Samphanthawong district on Saturday, with a similar incident reported on Tuesday morning.
City clerk Narong Ruangsri said a working group would be established to assess building safety, It would coordinate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority's public works department, district offices, the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning and the Engineering Institute of Thailand.
The inspections would focus on old buildings that show signs of deterioration and others of similar architecture, particularly those with external awnings, beams and other structures.
The city would create a database of buildings inspected and rank them by risk level, as a guide for future safety measures, Mr Narong said.
Owners of buildings found to be unsafe will be ordered to make repairs under the Building Control Act.
At 9.13am on Tuesday, Phukhaothong Fire and Rescue reported the partial collapse of another concrete awning on an old building, this time on Dinso Road in the Wat Bowon Niwet area of Phra Nakhon district. It is near Krua Apsorn restaurant. (continues below)
No injuries were reported. The third-floor awning subsided but remained attached to the building. The premises were not occupied. Authorities cordoned off the area for further inspection and repairs.
As for the fatal incident at the century-old building in Samphanthawong district on Saturday, five row houses at the scene remained closed to the public on Tuesday as safety inspections continued.
