In central Bangkok, panic swept through the streets as residents rushed outdoors when the earthquake hit. Following the tremor, crowded sidewalks, plazas, and sidewalks were filled with office workers, shopkeepers, and tourists who remained outside, fearing aftershocks and potential structural damage to buildings.
Social media footage, verified by The New York Times, captured a building under construction collapsing. Authorities confirmed that at least three people lost their lives, and dozens of construction workers were trapped in the wreckage.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, declared Bangkok an “area of emergency,” urging residents to evacuate tall buildings due to the risk of aftershocks. Other footage showed water spilling out of the rooftop swimming pool of a high-rise hotel, sloshing down the side of the building.
The city’s elevated train, known as the Skytrain, was shut down, and traffic on major roads came to a near halt as people attempted to head home. Office towers, shopping malls, and hotels evacuated employees and guests for inspections to assess any damage before permitting reentry.
Pam Kershaw and her husband, tourists from Melbourne, Australia, experienced the earthquake’s impact firsthand while staying on the 25th floor of the Athenee Hotel. The room swayed, and pictures slammed against the walls. Kershaw described the terrifying experience as she sat outside the hotel with hundreds of others waiting to return.
Muktita Suhartono and Sui-Lee Wee contributed to the reporting from Bangkok.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/world/asia/myanmar-earthquake-bangkok-thailand.html
