Bangkok high-rise residents shaken by cracks and fear after quake
The recent powerful earthquake in Myanmar has rattled more than just the ground, it’s shaken the confidence of Bangkok’s high-rise residents, who are now questioning whether their sky-high pads are safe havens or ticking time bombs.
The 7.7-magnitude quake on Friday, March 28, left buildings swaying and walls cracking in Bangkok, a city unaccustomed to major seismic shocks.
Among those affected was Phatsakon Kaewkla, who fled his 22 second-floor condo after spotting huge cracks running through the walls.
“I didn’t feel safe staying there. I was too scared to sleep in my own home for two days.”
Despite reassurances from his building’s management that it had passed safety checks, the 23 year old sales coordinator admits he’s still rattled.
“They say it’s safe, but I can’t unsee the damage.”
And he’s not alone. The tremor sparked fresh fears across the capital, where residents are now rethinking life in the clouds. Many are actively seeking lower-ground alternatives in the wake of the quake.
Forty-year-old property consultant Owen Zhu says the quake has had a real impact on Bangkok’s real estate scene.
“We’re seeing a spike in enquiries from people wanting to move out of high-rises. The earthquake has made people far more aware of the risks.”
Another resident, 25 year old Turkish national Yigit Buyukergun, said he spotted worrying cracks after the quake but was told by his landlord that everything was “fine.”
“The cracks are there, I can see them. But the owners keep insisting it’s not dangerous. It’s hard to trust that when the walls around you are splitting.”
The earthquake has also exposed a glaring flaw in the system: poor enforcement of building regulations. Zhu noted that Thailand’s construction standards have long been “under-monitored,” with safety often sidelined in favour of rapid development.
The recent collapse of a 30-storey building under construction in the capital has only added to the anxiety. Government officials are now probing whether shoddy materials and corner-cutting are behind the disaster, which trapped dozens of workers.
In response, interest in low-rise homes, viewed as safer in seismic events, is surging, with prices expected to rise in tandem.
But for residents like Buyukergun, talk of new laws and better standards offers little comfort.
“I never expected an earthquake here. Thailand always felt so safe. Now, I’m not so sure.”
As Bangkok’s skyline keeps growing, so too does the unease of those living at its highest heights.
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