Thailand Earthquake: 'Suddenly, The Whole Building Shook' – Eyewitnesses Recount Terrifying Ordeal

Bangkok: Screaming, widespread panic, eyewitnesses shared their terrifying ordeal of surviving the massive earthquake in Bangkok. A 7.7 magnitude quake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, killing at least twenty and burying dozens. The quake's epicenter was located at 96.07°E, 21.93°N, near the Sagaing region in central Myanmar, at a depth of 10 kilometers, and was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock. 

The tremors were so intense that they reached Bangkok, where residents felt strong shaking. 

Near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market, a 33-story building under construction, complete with a crane, collapsed into a massive cloud of dust. Onlookers were seen screaming and fleeing in a video shared on social media.

Panic Among Civilians As Buildings Swayed

Bangkok's city hall declared the city a disaster area to streamline the response. The greater Bangkok area, home to over 17 million people, includes many high-rise apartments. 

Fraser Morton, a tourist from Scotland, who was in one of Bangkok’s malls, recalled, “Suddenly, the whole building started to shake. There was immediate screaming and widespread panic.”

“There was people crying in the streets and, you know, the panic was horrendous really,” he said.

Like Morton, thousands of people fled into Benjasiri Park from nearby shopping malls, high-rises, and apartment buildings along Bangkok’s bustling Sukhumvit Road. Many were on their phones trying to contact loved ones, while others sought shade from the hot midday sun.

Traffic Shut Down

Sirens echoed across central Bangkok as vehicles clogged the streets, worsening the city's usual traffic gridlock. Meanwhile, the elevated rapid transit system and subway were shut down.

Although the area where the quake struck is prone to earthquakes, they are typically smaller, and it’s rare for them to be felt in Bangkok, which sits on a river delta and has a moderate earthquake risk.

April Kanichawanakul, who works in an office building in Bangkok, initially didn’t recognize the tremor as an earthquake, her first experience with one. “I just thought I was dizzy,” she said. She and her colleagues quickly ran downstairs from the 10th floor and waited outside for a signal that it was safe to return.

Also Read: Thailand Earthquake: Schools Shut, Train Services Suspended | 10 Points

In Mandalay, the earthquake caused several buildings to collapse, including the Ma Soe Yane monastery, one of the city's largest, and damaged the former royal palace. 

Christian Aid reported that its partners on the ground confirmed a dam burst in the city, leading to rising water levels in lowland areas.

A video posted online showed robed monks filming the multistory monastery before it suddenly collapsed. It was unclear if there were any casualties.

(with AP inputs)