Three people were found dead, and over 40 remain missing after a 30-storey building under construction for the State Audit Office collapsed following an earthquake in Myanmar this afternoon.
About 50 workers were in the building when the quake struck at 1:20 p.m. local time. Seven managed to escape, while the rest are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
The earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, occurred at a depth of 10 km in Mandalay, Myanmar, about 320 km northwest of Pang Ma Kha district in Mae Hong Son province. Strong tremors were felt across northern and central Thailand, including Bangkok.
Many people in Bangkok evacuated high-rise buildings and took refuge on the streets for safety.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has ordered the establishment of a command center at the old BMA office to coordinate rescue and relief operations.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, currently in Phuket, urged the public, particularly in Bangkok, to remain calm and stay away from high-rise buildings until the situation stabilizes.
She said she has instructed relevant agencies to be on standby to assist those affected by the earthquake and possible aftershocks.
Rescue teams and heavy machinery have been deployed to the collapsed building to begin search-and-rescue operations once experts confirm it is safe to enter. Sniffer dogs have also been sent to aid in locating survivors.
Associate Professor Sutthisak Soralump, a lecturer at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Engineering, said the quake was caused by movement along the Sagaing Fault in Mandalay, Myanmar.
He noted that initial measurements recorded magnitudes of 7.6, 7.6, and 7.4 on the Richter scale. The Sagaing Fault has triggered major earthquakes in the past, with magnitudes of 7–8 in 12912, 1930, 1940, and 1950.
He also warned the public of potential aftershocks, which could reach a magnitude of 6.6.
