Myanmar Earthquake : A deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, shaking the entire region—with Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, more than 1,000 km away from the epicentre. Though the worst-hit by the disaster was Myanmar, where more than 1,700 people lost their lives, Thailand too experienced a tragedy when an under-construction 33-storey skyscraper in Bangkok fell down, claiming the lives of at least 18 and leaving dozens missing.
The structure, located close to Chatuchak market, was a collaboration between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd., in which worries have been raised about the standard of construction and foreign participation in Thai infrastructure development projects. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed a quick probe into the collapse, with experts debating whether compromised design, inferior quality materials, or seismic weakness contributed to the tragedy.
The Collapse: A Structural Enigma
The skyscraper, which was to be the new Thai State Audit Office (SAO) headquarters, had taken three years to build at a cost of more than two billion Thai baht ($58 million). Although it was fitted with cranes and scaffolding, it collapsed quickly when the tremors of the earthquake hit Bangkok.
Suchatchavee Suwansawas, a civil engineer and Democrat Party politician, told *The Telegraph UK* that the collapse suggested serious flaws.
“*You see all other buildings, even high-rise buildings under construction, they are safe. So either the design was wrong or construction was wrong, but it’s too soon to reach conclusions,*” he said.
The Ministry of Industry has sent inspectors to ascertain if poor-quality steel or engineering faults led to the collapse.
The Chinese Connection
The role of China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Number 10 Engineer Group Company, has raised eyebrows. The Chinese company owned a 49% stake in the joint venture, the highest foreign ownership permitted in Thai firms.
Founded in 2018, China Railway Number 10 Thailand focuses on developing office buildings, residential compounds, and transport networks. But fiscal reports show hardship—in 2023, it logged a net loss of 199.66 million baht against revenues worth 206.25 million baht.
Though no direct link between the firm’s financials and the collapse is evident, there are questions about construction management and compliance with seismic safety requirements.
Thailand’s Earthquake Vulnerability
Bangkok’s soft ground increases seismic waves, and structures become more prone to shaking. Dr. Rebecca Bell, a tectonic specialist at Imperial College London, said the shallow depth of the Myanmar earthquake (only 10 km under the surface) enabled shockwaves to travel effectively, impacting Bangkok with surprising force.
*This straight fault also allows a lot of the energy to be taken down its length—which runs for 1,200 km south towards Thailand,*”
she explained to the *BBC*.
President of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand, Professor Amorn Pimarnmas, observed that there are earthquake-resistant regulations in place but enforcement is low—fewer than 10% of structures in high-risk areas adhere to safety codes.
Flat Slab” Construction: A Possible Culprit?
Some experts believe the fallen building might have employed a “flat slab” design, in which floors are supported directly on columns without beams for support.
Dr. Christian Málaga-Chuquitaype, an earthquake engineer at Imperial College London, likened the design to *”a table held up by legs alone, with no additional horizontal supports underneath.”*
*”Although this design is cost- and architecturally beneficial, it is not good in earthquakes, frequently collapsing in a brittle and abrupt (nearly explosive) way,”* he said.
If true, this would suggest that cost-saving measures sacrificed structural integrity.
Rescue Efforts and Lingering Hope
The rescuers are running against time, employing thermal drones and sniffer dogs to find survivors trapped beneath the rubble. Officials say that at least 15 individuals are likely to be alive, but hope is diminishing.
Pat Kongporn, whose parents were stuck, spoke to *The Telegraph* and said she had last spoken to them a few minutes before the earthquake. *”I will remain here until there is some news about my parents or until their bodies are discovered,”* she said. Myanmar Earthquake
Myanmar Earthquake
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