At Least 15 Survivors Believed Trapped Under Bangkok Skyscraper Rubble After Earthquake
At least 15 people are thought to still be alive and trapped beneath the rubble of a Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed following a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand.
Rescuers report having detected signs of life and have established communication with some survivors buried under the 10-storey mountain of debris. The rescue operation is now entering its second day, with numerous construction workers still missing.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday afternoon local time near Mandalay, Myanmar, killing hundreds at the epicenter. The quake’s tremors were felt across a vast area, including Bangkok, as well as in China and India.
Widespread devastation has been reported in Myanmar’s Saigaing region and Mandalay, with buildings flattened and temple spires toppled. Myanmar officials report that over 1,000 people have died, and 2,376 more are injured.
In Bangkok, the quake caused buildings to sway and water to spill out of swimming pools. Authorities received over 2,000 reports of cracks appearing in buildings, but the city has largely escaped major damage—apart from the collapse of an unfinished skyscraper housing the auditor-general’s office.
The 30-storey building, located near the Chatuchak market, was once a striking structure of blue glass and steel. The earthquake reduced it to a tangled heap of rebar and shattered concrete, leaving rescue workers scrambling to search for survivors.
Of the 400 workers present at the site, at least 96 remain missing, while eight have been confirmed dead and another eight injured. Many of the workers are believed to be Burmese migrants, who are common in Thailand’s construction industry.
Rescue teams, including drones, sniffer dogs, cranes, and excavators, have been working through the night and into Saturday. By midday, officials confirmed that at least 15 people were still alive beneath the rubble, located around 5 to 10 meters from the surface.
Due to the precarious condition of the collapsed building, which continues to shift, rescue teams have avoided using heavy machinery. Some survivors have been reached through noise and movements, and others have been detected by body heat.
“We want to save them as soon as possible,” said one official, adding that some signs of life had since gone silent. “I want all Thais to pray for them and stay strong.”
The cause of the building’s collapse remains under investigation, with authorities giving investigators one week to examine the site.
At the site, tents have been set up to register the relatives of missing workers. The atmosphere is somber as families wait for news, many tearfully holding on to hope.
“I just need to see him once, in whatever condition he’s in,” said Naruemol, a woman desperately waiting for news of her missing husband.
Siew, another relative waiting for news of his two missing cousins, expressed doubt about their survival, saying, “I think the chance of them surviving is very slim… In my heart, I don’t know if they will survive.”
Government officials have pledged to continue searching for the missing workers. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnweerakul, visiting the site, assured the public, “We work tirelessly and are still working around the clock to make sure that everybody is safe. We will keep working until there is no one left inside… We always have hope.”
Additional reporting by Sawitree Jang, Arunoday Mukharji, and Nick Marsh.