Rescue efforts continue into the second day, with authorities detecting signs of life from what remains of a 30-storey building that collapsed after a powerful earthquake struck in the region. Families of missing construction workers await anxious updates.**
Rescuers Optimistic as Signs of Life Emerge from Bangkok Skyscraper Rubble After Earthquake**
Rescuers Optimistic as Signs of Life Emerge from Bangkok Skyscraper Rubble After Earthquake**
At least 15 survivors are believed to be trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed skyscraper in Bangkok following a significant earthquake that struck near Myanmar.**
At least 15 people are still believed to be alive and trapped under the debris of a collapsed skyscraper in Bangkok, as rescue operations progress after a devastating earthquake struck the nearby Myanmar region. Rescuers have reported detecting signs of life and have managed to communicate with some individuals beneath the 10-storey pile of rubble, heightening hopes in what has become a frantic search operation.
The earthquake measured 7.7 on the Richter scale and occurred on Friday, devastating areas near Mandalay, Myanmar, and sending shockwaves felt as far away as the Thai capital and neighboring countries like China and India. Reports indicate that hundreds have died in Myanmar due to the quake, with current estimates suggesting over 1,000 fatalities and thousands more injured.
As the recovery effort enters its second day, authorities are racing to locate those still alive among the debris. Situating near the Chatuchak market, the now-collapsed structure, once a modern marvel of blue glass and steel, is reduced to a chaotic mass of twisted metal and concrete. Among the 400 construction workers present at the site during the incident, 96 remain unaccounted for. Today, eight workers are confirmed deceased, and an additional eight have been injured, with many construction workers being migrants from Myanmar.
Rescue teams are employing drones, sniffer dogs, cranes, and excavation machinery to assist in their search, although this has been complicated by the ongoing collapse of the building. Officials indicated some of the survivors have been detected about 5 to 10 meters from the surface, identified by their movements and body heat.
Witnesses at the site describe harrowing scenes, with families of those trapped gathering nearby, many in tears as they await updates on their loved ones. One woman, named Naruemol, expressed her despair over the fate of her husband, while another man, Siew, shared his disbelief about the slim chances of survival for his missing cousins.
Government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnweerakul, have reassured the public of their commitment to rescuing as many individuals as possible, stating, "We will keep working until there is no one left inside… We always have hope." Investigators are commencing an inquiry into the reasons for the building's collapse, with an expectation that answers may emerge in the coming week.
As rescuers continue their valiant efforts amid the uncertainty and despair, the stories of those trapped beneath the wreckage resonate deeply within the hearts of those waiting for news, illuminating the human toll behind this tragic disaster.
