Rescue teams in Bangkok are racing against time to save at least 15 people believed to be alive under the rubble of a collapsed skyscraper following a devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand. The 7.7-magnitude tremor, which hit on Friday afternoon, has claimed over 1,000 lives in Myanmar’s Saigaing region and Mandalay, leaving thousands more injured.
The impact of the earthquake was felt across vast distances, including in China and India. While Bangkok largely escaped serious damage, the collapse of an unfinished 30-storey building, once set to house the auditor-general’s office, has become the epicenter of tragedy in Thailand. The site, located near the bustling Chatuchak market, is now a scene of destruction, with twisted steel and shattered concrete dwarfing hundreds of rescue workers.
Authorities report that of the more than 400 workers present at the site when the disaster struck, 96 remain unaccounted for. Eight fatalities have been confirmed, with another eight individuals rescued and treated for injuries. Many of the missing workers are believed to be Burmese migrants, who make up a significant portion of Thailand’s construction workforce.
As the rescue operation extends into its second day, teams are employing drones, sniffer dogs, cranes, and excavators in their efforts. Officials confirmed that at least 15 people have been detected alive, buried approximately 5 to 10 meters beneath the debris. However, the ongoing structural instability of the site has complicated the mission, limiting the use of heavy machinery.
“We have made contact with some of the survivors, who responded by shouting and making noise,” an official stated. “We want to save them as soon as possible. Some signs of life we detected last night have since gone silent. We ask all Thais to pray for them.”
Amid the rescue efforts, families of the missing have gathered near the site, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. “I just need to see him once, in whatever condition he’s in,” cried Naruemol, the wife of a missing worker.
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnweerakul reassured the public that rescue teams are working tirelessly. “We will not stop until there is no one left inside. We always have hope,” he vowed.
