KUALA LUMPUR – A building under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district collapsed following a powerful earthquake, leaving 43 workers trapped, according to the kingdom’s National Institute for Emergency Medicine.
Seven workers managed to escape, while emergency response teams from the Narenthorn Emergency Medical Services Centre and its rescue network have been deployed to the site, The Nation reported.
Army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree confirmed that Army Commander-in-Chief General Pana Claewplodtook has activated the Army Disaster Relief Centre to assist in rescue operations.
All units have been instructed to deploy personnel and necessary equipment, while army hospitals are on standby to receive casualties.
Gen Pana has cancelled his scheduled visit to Thailand’s southern border provinces to oversee the emergency response. He has directed all regional army commanders to mobilise resources to aid the affected areas in Bangkok.
The declaration of a state of emergency will be handled by the government, the Ministry of Interior, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
Drones will be deployed to assess the damage at the collapsed 30-storey building, where nearly 100 workers were reportedly present at the time of the incident.
Authorities warn that communications in Bangkok and surrounding areas may experience disruptions.
Lieutenant General Amrit Boonsuya, Commander of the 1st Army Region, confirmed that personnel have been dispatched to assess structural damage and inspect other buildings in the district. A public assistance centre has also been established.
Tremors felt across Bangkok
The earthquake’s impact was felt at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters, where personnel evacuated to safety before returning to their duties. Witnesses reported strong tremors, with construction workers scrambling down scaffolding and hotel guests fleeing buildings in panic. No injuries were initially reported at the Army Headquarters.
Royal Thai Air Force Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul has ordered the Air Force Disaster Relief Centre to prepare for emergency assistance. This includes deploying aircraft for evacuations, delivering aid, and coordinating efforts with government agencies and private organisations to ensure public safety.
The collapsed building was part of an ‘Integrity Pact’ project, a collaboration between the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) and the State Audit Office of Thailand (SAO) with the ITD-CREC Joint Venture.
The initiative aimed to ensure transparency and prevent corruption, with the project’s contract awarded through a competitive bidding process that reportedly saved 386.15 million baht compared to the median construction price.
Widespread destruction in Myanmar
According to Reuters, the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Asia at midday, with its epicentre approximately 17.2km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. A powerful aftershock followed.
In Myanmar, at least one person was killed, and several buildings collapsed in Mandalay. Authorities are conducting search-and-rescue operations.
“We have started the search and are going around Yangon to check for casualties and damage. So far, we have no information yet,” an officer from the Myanmar Fire Services Department told Reuters.
Social media posts from Mandalay showed collapsed buildings and debris-strewn streets, though Reuters could not immediately verify them. Witnesses described scenes of panic, with residents fleeing their homes and a five-storey building collapsing before their eyes.
“We all ran out of the house as everything started shaking,” one resident said. Another witness, Htet Naing Oo, reported that a tea shop had collapsed with several people trapped inside. “We couldn’t go in. The situation is very bad,” she said.
The tremors were also felt in China’s Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, though no casualties have been reported there. – March 28, 2025