Bangkok Earthquake: Eighty-One Trapped in Collapsed Building
A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bangkok on Friday, causing the partial collapse of a 30-story government building under construction in the city’s northern Chatuchak district. The catastrophic event sent a plume of dust and debris into the sky, triggering panic among residents who scrambled to safety. As of Friday afternoon, three fatalities had been confirmed, with eighty-one individuals still trapped under the wreckage, according to Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The Bangkok Post reported on the unfolding tragedy.
The building, intended to house the Office of the Auditor General, was a bustling construction site employing approximately 400 Thai and foreign workers. The sudden quake transformed the site into a scene of chaos, with workers frantically attempting to escape the collapsing structure. Rescuers faced a daunting task, navigating a mountain of debris and twisted metal just meters from the popular Chatuchak Market. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, as emergency services worked tirelessly to locate and extract those trapped beneath the rubble.
Deputy Auditor-General Sutthipong Boonnithi, present at the scene, confirmed that construction on the 2.1 billion baht project began in 2020 and had reached the 30th floor, its highest point. The project was a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No. 1 (Thailand), known as ITD-CREC, with inspections overseen by a separate consortium.
The earthquake’s impact reverberated across the city—an unusual occurrence for Bangkok. Workers and shoppers poured into the streets, shaken by the unprecedented tremors. One office worker described the initial disorientation, saying, “At first, I thought I was sick—like I was getting dizzy or about to faint. Then I noticed the lanterns were moving.” Videos circulating online captured the terrifying scene of water sloshing over the edge of a high-rise hotel’s rooftop pool as the building swayed.
“I was shopping inside a mall when I noticed some signs moving, so I quickly ran outside,” said Attapong Sukyimnoi, a broker. “I knew I had to get to an open space—it was instinct.”
The incident evokes memories of past construction disasters in the region, including the 2013 collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh, which tragically claimed over 1,100 lives. This highlights ongoing concerns regarding building safety and disaster preparedness, particularly in rapidly developing urban areas. Globally, earthquake-prone regions such as Japan and California have implemented stringent building codes and early warning systems to mitigate the impact of seismic activity. However, the unexpected nature of this Bangkok earthquake underscores the need for continuous review and improvement of safety measures, even in areas not traditionally considered high-risk.
The collapse will likely have several far-reaching consequences:
- Increased scrutiny of building codes and practices: A thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse will be crucial, focusing on adherence to building regulations and construction quality.
- Economic impact: The disaster will undoubtedly affect the local economy, impacting businesses in the area and delaying the completion of the government building.
- Psychological impact: The traumatic experience will likely have long-term psychological effects on survivors and witnesses.
FAQ:
- Was there any warning before the earthquake? There was no immediate warning before the earthquake struck.
- What is being done to help the victims? Emergency services are actively engaged in rescue and recovery efforts, and the injured are being treated at local hospitals.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of natural disasters and the critical importance of robust building codes and disaster preparedness strategies. The coming days will be crucial for rescue efforts and the subsequent investigation, which will hopefully provide valuable lessons for preventing similar incidents in the future.
