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Tragedy Unfolds as Skyscraper Collapses in Bangkok
As dusk enveloped Bangkok, the city confronted a calamity as a 30-storey skyscraper collapsed at a construction site, leaving hundreds of rescue workers engaged in a race against time to locate survivors amidst the debris. The incident has left the nation in shock as the magnitude of the disaster continues to unfold.
With rescue teams striving to reach the estimated dozens of workers trapped underneath the collapsed structure, the chaotic scene is marked by towering mounds of concrete intertwined with twisted metal and wires. Standing nearby on a bridge, observers, including reporters, are struck with disbelief at the vast scale of destruction.
Emergency response efforts have been bolstered by the arrival of professional rescuers and military units equipped with floodlights. However, hope dwindles as the chance of finding additional survivors appears to lessen.
The catastrophe was precipitated by a shallow earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale that rocked central Myanmar, immediately followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock. Residents across the border in Thailand felt the tremors, explaining their struggle to cope with such catastrophic events that are not common in the region.
One worker, Nukul Khemutha, recalled the moment the tremors struck while he was on the fifth floor. “The shakes were unlike anything I had ever experienced,” he shared, reflecting the harrowing nature of the event.
The building, owned by the national audit office, was under construction for three years and had an estimated investment of over two billion Thai baht (approximately $59 million or £45 million). Its transformation into a pile of rubble now stands as a stark reminder of the tragedy.
Rescue operations continue as white tents are set up at the site, where workers in bright yellow helmets are focused on freeing around 81 individuals believed to be trapped beneath the debris. Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechachai revealed to reporters that three fatalities have been confirmed, while earlier, two lifeless bodies were observed being transported to the designated tents for identification.
Fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles have gathered along the road next to the wreckage, as the local community watches closely, attempting to comprehend the unfolding drama.
The situation may further evolve with the arrival of heavy machinery, including cranes, which rescuers say are essential for the clearance of debris before they can initiate searches for the missing.
Adisorn Kamphasorn, who was among the construction personnel onsite, recounted the terrifying moments leading up to the collapse. “I arrived less than an hour after it happened, and what I saw was horrifying,” he stated. He described running down the stairs from the sixth floor as the building trembled violently around him. “I knew something catastrophic was happening and tried to escape. The chaos was overwhelming, and I lost my phone in the confusion,” he added, noting that he hadn’t yet managed to reach his family.
Witnesses report that workers consisted of both Thai and Burmese individuals. Nukul Khemutha, at 30 years old, spoke about the fear that gripped everyone around him. He mentioned that a colleague had gone to the tenth floor prior to the collapse, and they remain anxiously awaiting news about him. “We were all just screaming to run and telling each other to hold hands,” he recounted.
The atmosphere among the survivors is somber as they gather, trying to find some comfort in each other’s presence while recognizing their precarious situation. As rescue operations draw into the night, the sounds of drilling resonate, hinting that they face many more hours of uncertainty ahead.
Source
www.bbc.com