Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Bangkok, Thailand, after a 30-storey under-construction building collapsed following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday.
According to CNN, at least 10 people have lost their lives in Bangkok, with over 100 feared trapped under the rubble.
- Thai authorities have deployed 55 military personnel, six rescue dogs, and heavy equipment such as cranes and diggers to assist in relief operations in Myanmar.
- Locals in Bangkok are distributing food and essential aid to support victims.
- The collapsed under-construction tower was intended for the State Audit Office, as per Thailand’s National Institute for Emergency Medicine.
- While Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assured the nation that the country has returned to normalcy, authorities have received 2,000 reports of structural cracks, prompting inspections of 700 buildings across Bangkok.
Meanwhile, the official death toll in Myanmar has surpassed 1,600, according to the New York Times.
- The quake’s epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, leaving widespread devastation.
- Rescue teams face major challenges, including damaged infrastructure and restricted information flow under the military regime.
- Experts predict the death toll could exceed 10,000, as per US Geological Survey estimates.
Even before the earthquake, 20 million people in Myanmar were already struggling with severe food and shelter shortages due to the ongoing civil conflict. The disaster has intensified concerns over the junta’s ability to manage the crisis, further deepening the country’s instability.
As search and rescue efforts continue in both Thailand and Myanmar, international attention remains focused on humanitarian aid, rebuilding efforts, and the growing crisis in the region.