Sun Mar 30 11:47:17 UTC 2025: ## Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Kills 17 After Myanmar Earthquake
**Bangkok, Thailand** – A 33-story building under construction in Bangkok collapsed on Friday following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar, leaving at least 17 dead and 83 missing. The building, owned by Thailand’s State Audit Office (SAO), crumbled in seconds, trapping dozens of construction workers beneath the rubble.
Rescue efforts are underway, with thermal imaging drones detecting signs of life beneath the debris. While 8 bodies have been recovered so far, 32 people have been injured and the fate of the remaining 83 unaccounted for remains unknown. The intense heat is hampering rescue operations.
The collapsed building was a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd., a subsidiary of a Chinese firm. This Chinese-backed company is now under investigation to determine the cause of the collapse, with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister ordering a seven-day expert panel investigation. Experts are questioning the building’s structural integrity, especially given that no other high-rises in Bangkok suffered similar damage during the quake. The building, under construction for three years at a cost of over two billion baht (approximately £45 million), reported a net loss in 2023.
The earthquake caused widespread devastation across Myanmar, resulting in over 1,600 confirmed deaths and thousands of injuries. The Myanmar junta has issued an unprecedented international appeal for aid. In Bangkok, while the collapsed building was the most significant incident, the earthquake also caused evacuations and widespread disruption.
The incident highlights concerns about building safety standards in the rapidly developing city of Bangkok, while also exposing the devastating impact of the earthquake on both Thailand and Myanmar.
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