Since the redshirt rally kicked off on March 12, 85 people have been killed in clashes and 1,898 injured, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said yesterday.
Of the victims, five were rescue workers attached to emergency services. Two of them, Boonting Panjira from Vajira Hospital and Mana Saenprasertsri from Por Tek Tung Foundation, were killed. The remaining three, Suraphon Yimniam, Thira Jumjaroen and Sarayut Ampan, have sustained injures.
Sarayut and Thira are still being treated in hospital.
"These five rescue workers will receive financial assistance [as victims of political violence] from the Social Development and Human Security Ministry in line with government policy," Jurin said, adding that the Public Health Ministry would offer an additional Bt20,000 to each victim.
"Families of the rescue workers who were killed will each receive Bt50,000 from us," Jurin said.
He also thanked all hospitals, rescue workers and volunteers for doing their best to provide medical help to those in need during the tumultuous period.
Fiftythree people were killed between May 14 and 19, with most deaths recorded in Bangkok and one killed in Khon Kaen.
Officials also found one body inside the gutted CentralWorld building, that of a man between the age of 25 and 30.
"He was suspected of going inside to steal some products or to flee from the violence. He died of suffocation after arsonists set fire to the building," a source said.
The CentralWorld shopping complex had been closed since the redshirt demonstrators began their rally at Rajprasong intersection last month. On Wednesday, the rally was brought to an end but some demonstrators set fire to the CentralWorld building causing grave damages to the businesses inside. Parts of the building have already crumbled.
Director of the Forensic Science Institute, Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, said yesterday that this redshirt rally was not an ordinary political protest.
"We have found weapons like M16 assault rifles and incendiary bombs at the rally site," she said.
Pornthip and other relevant officials are now gathering evidence at the rally site, just as soldiers continue to scour the area to ensure there are no armed red shirts remaining.
Soldiers also conducted a search at the General Police Hospital and Police Nursing College yesterday.