Rescue teams in Bangkok are working around the clock to reach at least 15 survivors trapped beneath the wreckage of a collapsed 30-story skyscraper, the catastrophic result of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday.
The unfinished auditor-general’s office building, located near the popular Chatuchak Market, pancaked during the quake, leaving hundreds of construction workers buried under twisted steel and shattered concrete.
Officials confirm they have established communication with some survivors through shouts and detected others via thermal imaging, though the unstable debris pile—estimated at 10 meters deep—has forced crews to avoid heavy machinery.
The earthquake’s epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar, left a trail of devastation, with over 1,000 confirmed fatalities and 2,376 injured in the Sagaing Region. While Bangkok escaped widespread damage, the tremors caused visible cracks in 2,000 structures across the Thai capital.
The skyscraper collapse remains Thailand’s most severe incident, with 96 workers still unaccounted for—many of whom are Burmese migrants employed in Thailand’s construction sector.
Investigation Launched Into Cause of Collapse
Authorities have given engineers one week to determine why the high-rise—a gleaming blue-glass structure before its implosion—failed so catastrophically.
Preliminary reports suggest the “pancake collapse” left voids where survivors might be sheltered, but shifting debris has complicated rescue efforts. Drones, sniffer dogs, and cranes are being deployed strategically to locate victims without triggering further collapses.
The quake’s effects rippled across Southeast Asia, with tremors felt as far as China and India. In Myanmar, ancient temple spires toppled and entire villages were flattened, prompting international aid mobilizations.
Meanwhile, Bangkok’s disaster response teams face scrutiny over building safety standards, particularly for migrant laborers who form the backbone of Thailand’s construction industry.
Now, as night falls on the second day of rescue operations, Buddhist monks and volunteers distribute food to weary workers and grieving families. The Thai public has rallied behind the effort, with social media flooded by the hashtag #SaveChatuchakWorkers. Yet with monsoons forecast later this week, the race to recover survivors has taken on renewed urgency.
