The powerful earthquake that devastated Myanmar on Friday sent shockwaves through Bangkok, a city known for its towering buildings and construction boom. While the quake caused significantly less damage in Thailand compared to Myanmar, its impact was still felt across the city, leaving residents shaken and sparking concerns about the safety of tall buildings.

Kanittha Thepasak, a resident of Bangkok, initially dismissed the shaking of her home as dizziness until she noticed a lamp moving and cars swaying outside. The streets quickly filled with people who had rushed out of their buildings, staring up at the apartment complexes, office towers, and unfinished constructions surrounding them.

Thepasak, who works on the 29th floor of an office building, expressed her worry and concern about the lack of understanding of earthquakes in Thailand. She said, “I’m freaked out, I’m worried. Thai people have no basic understanding of earthquakes because we never really experience them.”

While the quake caused less damage in Thailand compared to Myanmar, it still had a significant impact. The sheer force of the earthquake, measuring a magnitude of 7.7, emptied Bangkok’s streets. As the Thai government and engineers inspected damaged structures to ensure they were safe for occupation, the city was left with dark thoughts of routines that included living and working at great heights.

The most devastating scene in Thailand was the complete collapse of a building under construction in Bangkok, resulting in at least 11 worker deaths and dozens more missing. Rescue crews continued to search through the rubble, using excavators and trained dogs to look for both the dead and the living.

Andy Redmond, a member of the K9 search team, mentioned that the overwhelming scent at the collapse site made it challenging for the dogs to locate individual remains. It was a learning curve for the team, as they had never experienced a disaster of this magnitude before.

The collapse of the building has altered how residents view their city. Bangkok has been on the move for about a decade, with a construction boom fueled by the expansion of its subway and Skytrain. However, the sight of cranes hovering over the skyline has taken on an ominous quality, especially for Somrental Nilbanjong, who felt scared looking at the unfinished structures.

Government officials have attempted to calm nerves and keep the public informed. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued an urgent alert warning people to be cautious of aftershocks. However, even as the city has returned to its usual bustle, many individuals are struggling to process the fact that earthquakes can happen in their own city, rather than in distant places like Japan or Taiwan.

Jiraporn Jaichob, a drink stall owner, is now planning for future disasters. He is considering buying a transistor radio in case cellphone coverage goes down and has also prepared a go bag for his family

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/world/asia/earthquake-bangkok-building-safety.html