Building Collapse in Bangkok Leaves Dozens Trapped or Missing After Powerful Earthquake in Myanmar

A catastrophic building collapse rocked Bangkok today as a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar as we reported here this afternoon, leaving at least two people reportedly dead and dozens of workers trapped under rubble. The epicenter of the quake was located near Mandalay in central Myanmar, approximately 800 miles from the Thai capital, but its shallow depth of 10 kilometers amplified its devastating effects across the region.

The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. local time when a 30-story skyscraper under construction in the Chatuchak district of northern Bangkok crumbled into a pile of twisted metal and debris. The building, intended for government offices and overseen by the Office of the Auditor General, was reduced to rubble in seconds, trapping an estimated 43 workers, according to police and medics on the scene. Rescue operations are underway, with emergency teams racing against time to locate survivors.

Thai emergency responders reported that seven individuals have been pulled alive from the wreckage, though at least two fatalities have been confirmed. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul later stated that as many as 81 workers remain unaccounted for, raising fears of a higher death toll. “We are doing everything we can to reach those still trapped,” said rescue worker Songwut Wangpon, speaking amidst the chaotic scene near the city’s popular Chatuchak Market. Dramatic footage circulating online captured the moment the multi-story structure, topped with a crane, collapsed into a massive cloud of dust, sending onlookers fleeing in panic.

The earthquake, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock, triggered widespread alarm in Bangkok, a city of over 17 million people unaccustomed to seismic activity of this scale. Alarms blared in high-rise buildings as residents and tourists evacuated down staircases, while metro and light rail services were temporarily suspended.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has mobilized drones to assess the damage. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt urged residents to remain cautious as inspections of other buildings continue, noting that the full extent of structural damage across the city is still unknown.

The Thai military has been deployed to assist in rescue efforts,

Across the border in Myanmar, the quake caused additional destruction, toppling buildings in Mandalay and damaging roads and religious shrines in the capital, Naypyidaw. Myanmar’s ruling junta has declared a state of emergency in affected regions, with reports of at least three deaths so far linked to a mosque collapse.