A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday triggered a devastating collapse of a 33-storey high-rise under construction in Bangkok over 1,000 km from the epicenter. The incident has raised serious concerns about building safety, with experts questioning the structural integrity of the skyscraper.
Rescuers are racing against time to locate and extract those trapped beneath the rubble. So far eight bodies have been recovered, while thermal imaging drones have detected at least 15 people who may still be alive.
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a rapid inquiry into why the high-rise crumbled while other buildings withstood the tremors. The structure was being built as the new headquarters of Thailand’s State Audit Office (SAO), a project valued at over two billion Thai baht ($58 million). It was a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd., a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned company.
Civil engineers have suggested that either flawed design or substandard construction materials could be responsible. Some experts also pointed to Bangkok’s soft soil, which amplifies seismic waves, making ground shaking more intense. Others have highlighted concerns over a “flat slab” design, where floors rest directly on columns without beams, making structures vulnerable during earthquakes.
Seismologists noted that the earthquake was unusually shallow, occurring just 10 km beneath the surface, intensifying its impact. It occurred along a “straight fault,” allowing seismic energy to travel over 1,200 km, reaching Bangkok with significant force.
While Thailand has regulations requiring earthquake-resistant structures in 43 provinces, experts estimate that fewer than 10% of buildings actually meet the standards. The collapse of a relatively new skyscraper has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of these regulations.
Families of those trapped remain hopeful as rescue teams continue their search. Pat Kongporn, whose parents were inside the building when it fell, vowed to stay until she received news about their fate.
Meanwhile in Myanmar, the earthquake has caused massive devastation, with at least 1,700 dead, over 3,400 injured, and more than 300 people missing.