On March 28, 2025, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Myanmar sent shockwaves 1,300 km to Bangkok, Thailand, where a 33-story skyscraper under construction—the new office of the State Audit Office of Thailand—collapsed in the Chatuchak area. The disaster killed 9 people (with estimates ranging from 3 to 10), injured 16, and left 117 missing, with 12 rescued so far, according to The Independent and Yahoo News. Dashcam footage captured the terrifying moment of the collapse, while videos on X showed water sloshing like a tidal wave in a skyscraper pool, reflecting the quake’s intensity. With breakout search queries like 'earthquake in bangkok' and 'bangkok earthquake today' trending on Google, the event has sparked global concern. The skyscraper, built by a Chinese state-owned company, raises questions about construction standards, especially as some Thai buildings withstood the quake due to strong foundations, as noted in an X post by @CBuri17007.

The earthquake’s effects in Bangkok were profound, with tremors felt across the city, 650 miles from the epicenter near Sagaing, Myanmar. The collapse of the 33-story skyscraper in Chatuchak was the most severe incident, but the quake caused widespread disruption. The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended trading for the afternoon session, the skytrain was shut down, and traffic came to a standstill as residents flooded the streets in panic, fearing aftershocks, as reported by Yahoo News and The New York Times. Social media captured the chaos, with X users like @WorldsQuant sharing videos of water spilling from a rooftop pool in a Bangkok skyscraper, and @aaraynsh describing the visuals as 'scary.' The city’s dense population and high-rise infrastructure amplified the fear, with many residents unable to return to their buildings due to safety concerns. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared Bangkok an 'area of emergency,' urging evacuation from tall buildings.

Rescue operations in Bangkok are underway, with emergency crews working tirelessly to find survivors in the rubble of the collapsed skyscraper. So far, 12 people have been rescued, but 117 remain missing, raising fears of a rising death toll. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reported on the efforts, noting the challenges of searching through the debris of a 33-story structure. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued a nationwide alert for potential aftershocks, with a 4.2 magnitude aftershock already reported later on March 28 (Hindustan Times). The declaration of Bangkok as an 'area of emergency' has led to evacuations and heightened safety measures, with residents urged to avoid tall buildings. Public reaction has been marked by panic, with reports of screaming and chaos as buildings swayed, according to Deseret News.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 10 miles northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, near the Sagaing Fault, but its effects were felt across Southeast Asia, including in Bangkok, 1,300 km away. Thailand is less prone to earthquakes than Myanmar, making this event particularly significant. The collapse of the 33-story skyscraper raises questions about construction standards, especially since it was under construction and built by a Chinese state-owned company (CNN). An X post by @CBuri17007 highlighted that some Thai buildings withstood the quake due to strong foundations, suggesting variability in construction quality. The incident underscores the need for stricter building codes in seismically active regions, even those not typically prone to quakes. Stay tuned to NowSpike for updates, and check out our other trending stories,