Rescue teams in Bangkok have detected signs of life beneath the ruins of a collapsed 30-story skyscraper, two days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake devastated parts of Myanmar and neighboring regions.
Officials say at least 15 people are still alive under the debris, with efforts ongoing to free them.
The quake, which struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, on Friday, has claimed over 1,000 lives and injured more than 2,300 people. Its impact was felt across Thailand, China, and India, with Bangkok experiencing tremors that caused buildings to sway and left cracks in structures.
The most severe damage in Thailand occurred at the unfinished headquarters of the Auditor-General’s office, near Chatuchak Market. The high-rise building crumbled into a massive heap of concrete and steel, trapping at least 96 workers. So far, eight people have been confirmed dead, and another eight have been rescued with injuries.
Rescue workers, using drones, sniffer dogs, and thermal sensors, have located survivors buried 5 to 10 meters below the rubble. Some have managed to make noise or move to signal their presence, while others were detected through heat sensors. However, officials fear time is running out as some of the earlier signs of life have faded.
“We want to save them as soon as possible,” one rescue official stated. “The building collapsed like a pancake and continues to shift, making operations extremely dangerous.” Authorities have been forced to limit the use of heavy machinery to prevent further collapses.
Meanwhile, desperate families of the missing have gathered at the site, anxiously waiting for news. “I just want to see my husband, no matter what condition he is in,” sobbed one woman named Naruemol, as she clung to a friend for support.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse, with initial findings expected within a week.