At least 15 individuals are reportedly alive and trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed skyscraper in Bangkok, following a powerful earthquake that struck the region. Rescue teams have detected signs of life and made contact with some survivors under the rubble of the 10-storey building, which buckled after a 7.7-magnitude quake rattled Myanmar and northern Thailand on Friday. The disaster has left dozens of construction workers missing as the rescue mission enters its second day.
The tremor's epicentre was located near Mandalay in Myanmar, where authorities report critical damage and a rising death toll exceeding 1,000, with thousands more injured. The quake's tremors were felt throughout Thailand’s capital, where waters from swimming pools sloshed and numerous buildings reported cracks. However, Bangkok itself has largely remained intact, except for the unfinished auditor-general’s office skyscraper that is now a site of devastation.
Witnesses described the skyscraper collapsing "like a pancake," generating an overwhelming mountain of twisted metal and debris, leaving hundreds of rescue workers scrambling to search for survivors. Out of the more than 400 workers present at the construction site during the quake, at least 96 are unaccounted for, while 8 have perished, and several others sustain injuries. Many involved in the project were Burmese migrants employed in the Thai construction industry.
Rescue operations, characterized by the use of drones, sniffer dogs, cranes, and excavators, continue despite challenges in utilizing heavy machinery due to the instability of the wreckage. Rescue teams reported making contact with some of the survivors through shouts and movements, though others have since gone silent. Officials are urging public prayers and support as they tirelessly work to rescue those still trapped.
In the oppressive heat surrounding the site, family members of the missing have gathered in tents to await updates, their faces reflecting worry and despair. "I just need to see him once, in whatever condition he's in," mourned Naruemol, searching for news of her husband amidst the throng of anxious relatives. Fellow relatives expressed a mix of hope and resignation over the fate of missing loved ones.
Government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnweerakul, pledged to maintain their efforts until every trapped individual is accounted for. As investigations into the causes of the building collapse unfold, families hold onto hope and await news that may come too slowly in the haze of anxiety and grief.
