15 dead, 72 missing amidst quake rubble in Bangkok
Rescue teams continue their search for 72 missing workers after a catastrophic building collapse in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district.
The under-construction 30-story State Audit Office (SAO) building crumbled last Friday afternoon, March 28, following a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, which was felt across the region, including Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province.
As of this morning, April 2, the death toll has risen to 15, with eight men and seven women confirmed dead. In addition, nine others have been injured, and rescue teams are working around the clock to locate the remaining 72 missing workers trapped beneath the rubble.
Today, officials used a crane basket to recover the body of a female worker from Zone D of the collapsed structure. Her remains were carefully transported to the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification.
Government officials have promised to continue their efforts to recover as many survivors as possible, despite the challenging conditions at the site.
The collapse of the SAO building, which was still under construction, has raised serious concerns about building safety in the wake of the earthquake. Rescue operations remain ongoing, with officials determined to find the remaining missing workers, but the grim reality of the situation has left many fearing the worst, reported The Nation.
This tragedy has sent shockwaves through the construction community and beyond, with the victims’ families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. The search and recovery efforts are expected to continue for the foreseeable future as officials work tirelessly to locate those still trapped in the debris.
As rescue teams push forward, the full scale of the damage and the loss of life continues to unfold, leaving Bangkok and the wider region in mourning.
In similar news, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was forced to cut short an important meeting with Phuket officials after receiving urgent news of a devastating earthquake in Bangkok.
At 12.30pm on March 28, while reviewing development plans and tourism policies, the 38 year old premier was informed of the earthquake, which originated in Myanmar and impacted several northern regions of Thailand, including Bangkok.
Reports also indicated a building collapse in Chatuchak district. In response, the prime minister immediately called an emergency meeting to assess the situation, while the Ministry of Interior declared Bangkok an emergency zone and coordinated rescue efforts.
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