In brief
Rescue crews are engaged in a desperate mission to find workers trapped under the rubble of a collapsed office tower after a devastating earthquake rattled Bangkok and neighboring regions.
---Rescue teams working at the site of an office building that collapsed during a powerful earthquake in Bangkok on Friday have faced grim realities as the search for survivors continues. Initial glimmers of hope emerged over the weekend with the discovery of a large, empty room deep beneath the wreckage. The chief of operations for the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, Piyalux Thinkaew, expressed optimism at the sight of open space where it was believed trapped workers might have found refuge.Around a dozen rescuers from multiple countries, including Thailand, China, the United States, and Israel, joined forces in searching for survivors, hoping against hope. As the teams utilized advanced infrared sensors to identify potential signs of life, silence fell over the site when no one was discovered alive or deceased by Monday morning; the critical 72-hour 'golden window' since the earthquake was closing fast.Disappointment set in for rescuers and anguished families of the missing, as Piyalux lamented, “Hope is dimming. We’re very disappointed.” While they officially did not transition from rescue to recovery operations just yet, nearly 80 individuals remained trapped under vast piles of concrete and steel, a stark reminder of the devastation that had struck.As rescue workers pressed on, they remained aware of the emotional and psychological toll this disaster was inflicting on loved ones waiting anxiously for news. The tragedy has sparked discussions about building safety measures and emergency preparedness in the region, as crews continue to search tirelessly amidst the ruins, clinging to any remaining hope to find the missing before it's too late.
