Bangkok-
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, rescue operations intensified at the site of a collapsed under-construction State Audit Office building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, where vital signs from 15 trapped individuals were detected.
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, rescue operations intensified at the site of a collapsed under-construction State Audit Office building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, where vital signs from 15 trapped individuals were detected.
This has sparked hope among rescuers, who are now racing against time to save these survivors within the critical 72-hour window—widely recognized as the period during which trapped individuals are most likely to survive without food or water. The collapse occurred following a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, 2025, with its effects felt hundreds of kilometers away in Bangkok, causing widespread structural damage, as we have reported extensively over the past day.
The building, a 33-storey skyscraper intended to house the State Audit Office, was still under construction when it crumbled into a pile of rubble and twisted metal. The incident took place near the bustling Chatuchak Weekend Market. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited the site early Saturday morning at 6:30 AM, spending time with rescue teams before addressing the media. He highlighted the number of people believed to be trapped—estimated between 40 and over 100 based on varying reports—and the challenges posed by the extensive debris, including large concrete segments and structural instability.
Rescue teams, equipped with heavy machinery like crane trucks and supported by Royal Thai Army personnel, emergency medical services, and search dogs, have been working tirelessly since the collapse.
High-tech detection equipment picked up signs of life, such as heartbeats or faint movements, say rescue workers.
However, the unstable structure complicates efforts, requiring careful debris removal to avoid further collapses.
Yesterday’s earthquake, centered near Mandalay, Myanmar, has caused devastation across Southeast Asia, flattening buildings, cracking roads, and displacing thousands mostly in Myanmar. In Bangkok, the tremors were strong enough to sway skyscrapers and spill water from rooftop pools, marking this as an unprecedented event for a city not typically prone to earthquakes.
