The discovery of cracks and buildings swaying, or at least giving the impression of instability, led to the evacuation of about 10 governmental and Thai administrative buildings in Bangkok on Monday, March 31. The shockwave from the Myanmar earthquake on March 28, over 1,000 kilometers from the epicenter, was estimated at 7.4. Scenes of panic even occurred at the Police Hospital in the heart of the Thai capital: occupants believed they recognized one of their buildings leaning in a video circulating on social media, which actually showed another property.

While authorities are trying to give reassurance and all buildings in the megacity of 11 million inhabitants are undergoing inspections (the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority recorded 14,430 cases of damage on March 31), and repairs where necessary, this concern is not unfounded. The only building that collapsed on March 28, a nearly completed 32-story tower construction project, was set to host the new headquarters of the State Audit Office (SAO), the Thai Court of Audit.

Only nine of the workers trapped that day have been rescued. While 13 lifeless bodies were retrieved from the debris on Monday, March 31, 74 people are still missing, most of them migrant workers. The construction site was located in the north of Bangkok, near the famous Chatuchak market, a popular destination for foreign tourists.

You have 70.08% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.