Trakul Thotham, the director of the Department of Prevention and Mitigation Region 18 Phuket, confirmed to The Phuket News that the final search of the site was completed on Tuesday, and forensics workers did not find any bodies.
“There are no dead or injured, this is confirmed,” he said.
A meeting was told this morning (October 24) that Rassada Municipality would deal with any ongoing issues relating to pollution – including smoke and wastewater in the area.
Control of the entire site has now been handed back to SuperCheap, who will start the clean-up and decide what to do with the area. So far, owner Boonsom Anantajaroonwong has not spoken to the press about the fire. An investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the fire.
The fire broke out at around 9.30pm on Wednesday (October 16), sparking initial fears that hundreds may be trapped inside. But officials have confirmed that no-one died in the fire, and everyone inside the store managed to, miraculously, escape.
Around 80 per cent of employees from the megastore have confirmed they will stay with the company, and will be given jobs at the many minimarts around the island, or at the new "Talad SuperCheap" set up next to the razed site.