Powerful Earthquake Topples Bangkok High-Rise, Dozens Trapped Under Debris.
A towering cloud of dust and debris swept through the streets of northern Bangkok on Friday, triggering panic as residents ran for safety after a massive under-construction skyscraper collapsed in the wake of a powerful earthquake.
The 30-storey government building, still under construction, crumbled into rubble within moments, turning the site into a disaster zone. Terrified people were seen fleeing in all directions — some sprinting on foot, others scrambling into their cars to escape the chaos.
Construction workers wearing hard hats and bright orange safety jackets were caught in the swirling dust as the concrete structure gave way. Dozens of workers who couldn’t escape in time were buried beneath the rubble.
Rescue crews rushed to the scene, dwarfed by a mountain of debris and tangled steel beams, just a few metres from the bustling Chatuchak Market. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed that 81 people were trapped and three fatalities had been recorded by Friday afternoon.
The Narenthorn Centre at the National Institute for Emergency Medicine reported that, as of 6:40pm, 68 people were injured, including five in critical condition. Victims were transported to seven hospitals across Bangkok.
Approximately 400 Thai and foreign workers were employed at the site at the time of the collapse. The building was being constructed on an 11-rai plot on Kamphaeng Phet Road for the State Audit Office. Deputy Auditor-General Sutthipong Boonnithi, who was at the scene, said the 2.1-billion-baht project had begun in 2020 and was 30% complete, with the structure having reached its full height.
The main contractor for the project is ITD-CREC, a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No. 1 (Thailand). Inspections were overseen by a joint venture comprising PN Synchroniz, W and Associates Group, and KP Consultants and Management.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham described Friday's seismic event as unprecedented for Bangkok in the last century, warning that thorough structural inspections would be needed across the city.
“Surveys will need to be carried out on hospitals, schools, temples, and other buildings to check for cracks or weak points that could pose further danger,” he said. “Bangkok's soft, muddy ground increases the risk.”
Citywide Panic as Tremors Shake Bangkok
The earthquake, measured at a powerful 7.7 magnitude, sent shockwaves through Bangkok — a city unaccustomed to strong tremors. The violent shaking forced workers and shoppers to flee buildings in fear.
“I thought I was feeling dizzy or about to faint, but then I noticed the lanterns swinging,” said an office worker who ran from her building.
Viral footage showed a hotel rooftop pool sloshing violently, water spilling over the building’s edge.
“I was inside a mall when I saw signs swaying, so I ran outside immediately,” said Attapong Sukyimnoi, a local broker. “My instincts told me to get to an open space.”
In Siam Square, schoolchildren were trapped temporarily in Siamscape, a mixed-use building that houses tutoring schools, when parts of the structure cracked and collapsed. All were safely evacuated.
In Klong Toey district, hundreds of visitors were cleared out of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, where the National Book Fair was underway, following reports of violent shaking. The fair has been temporarily closed by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand.
0 Comments