A very strong earthquake with a 7.7 magnitude hit Myanmar on Friday. It caused a lot of damage, and many people lost their lives. More than 1,700 people died, and 3,400 were injured. The earthquake was so powerful that it was also felt in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

In Bangkok, a 33-story building that was still being built suddenly collapsed. This tragic event led to the deaths of at least 18 people, while 33 others were injured. Right now, authorities are trying to find out why the building fell. Meanwhile, rescue teams are working hard to search for people who might still be trapped under the debris.

Why did the building collapse in Bangkok?

The collapsed building was supposed to be the new office for Thailand's State Audit Office (SAO). It was still under construction and had been in progress for three years. The total cost of building it was more than two billion Thai baht (about $58 million).

Two companies were working together to build it. One was an Italian-Thai company, and the other was China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd. This Chinese company is a part of a bigger Chinese firm called China Railway Number 10 Engineer Group Company. The Chinese firm owned 49% of the shares in the project.

The sudden fall of the building has made many people question what went wrong. A civil engineer and politician, Prof. Suchatchavee Suwansawas, told The Telegraph UK that other buildings, even tall ones under construction, are still standing safely. He said, "You see all other buildings, even high-rise buildings under construction; they are safe. So either the design was wrong or the construction was wrong, but it's too soon to reach conclusions."

This has made people think that there might have been mistakes in the building's design or that poor-quality materials were used.

To find out the truth, Thailand’s Ministry of Industry has sent a team to check whether weak steel or bad construction methods caused the collapse. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, also visited the site on Saturday and ordered a fast investigation. He said, "I am appointing the investigation committee. I have given them seven days to report back as to what's going on and what caused the falling down."

How did the Myanmar earthquake affect Bangkok?

Experts say the Myanmar earthquake was unusually powerful because of its location and the type of fault involved. Dr. Rebecca Bell, a tectonics expert at Imperial College London, explained to the BBC that the fault was of a "straight nature," allowing seismic energy to travel 1,200 km south towards Thailand. Since the earthquake was shallow, with its centre just 10 km below the surface, it caused stronger shaking on the ground.

Bangkok's soft soil made the situation worse. When seismic waves pass through soft ground, they slow down and grow in intensity, causing greater shaking. Prof. Amorn Pimarnmas, president of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand, noted that while earthquake-proof building regulations exist in 43 provinces, fewer than 10% of buildings in Thailand meet these standards. He explained that Bangkok’s soil conditions could have amplified the earthquake's impact, possibly contributing to the building collapse.

Additionally, construction methods may have played a role. Some experts suspect that the "flat slab" design used in the collapsed building made it vulnerable to the quake. Dr. Christian Málaga-Chuquitaype, an earthquake engineering expert at Imperial College London, explained, "Imagine a table supported only by legs, with no extra horizontal supports underneath. While this design has cost and architectural advantages, it performs poorly during earthquakes, often failing in a brittle and sudden (almost explosive) manner."

Ongoing rescue efforts and investigation

As of Sunday, 78 people were still missing in Bangkok. Most of the victims were workers who were trapped under the debris when the building collapsed. Rescuers are racing against time to find survivors. Thai police commander Teerasak Thongmo said, "Our team is trying to find anyone that might still be alive. Within the first 72 hours, we have to try and save those still alive."

Rescue teams are using special drones with thermal cameras to find people who might still be alive under the debris. Reports say that at least 15 people could still be trapped inside.

Meanwhile, families of those missing are waiting for news, but their hope is slowly fading. One woman, Pat Kongporn, said that her parents were inside the building when it collapsed. She last spoke to them at 12:30 pm on Friday, just before the earthquake happened. She has travelled from a city 50 miles north of Bangkok and has decided to stay at the site until she gets some news about her parents.

Meanwhile, the Thai government is under pressure to ensure accountability. Many people are questioning whether the joint venture, particularly China Railway Number 10 (Thailand), followed proper safety guidelines. Reports indicate that the company suffered a net loss of 199.66 million baht in 2023, raising concerns about financial struggles affecting construction quality.

Authorities are expected to release a preliminary investigation report within a week. The focus will be on whether the collapse resulted from poor construction practices, design flaws, or the impact of the earthquake.

In the coming days, Thailand will continue its search and rescue operations while investigating the reasons behind the disaster. The incident serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of earthquakes and the importance of strong, well-regulated infrastructure. Families of victims and missing persons now wait for answers and justice as authorities work to determine what went wrong.

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