Myanmar Quake: Thailand Probes Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Over China Link

On Friday, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, causing destruction over 1,000 km away in Thailand.

Based on the situation, in Bangkok, at least 18 people lost their lives when a 33-storey building under construction collapsed due to the tremors. In addition to the fatalities, 33 individuals sustained injuries, while 78 are still unaccounted for.

What stands out in this tragedy is that, despite Bangkok’s skyline being home to numerous skyscrapers, no other buildings were notably damaged, which raises serious concerns about the construction quality of the collapsed structure.

The firm responsible for the building's construction, based in China, has come under intense scrutiny. In response, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

The Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT) is charged with uncovering the reasons behind the collapse and must submit a detailed report within a week. The inquiry will delve into the building’s design, the approval process, and any potential oversights that may have led to this catastrophic failure.

The collapsed structure was part of Thailand's State Audit Office project, which had been under construction for three years, with an estimated cost exceeding two billion Thai baht (around $58 million).

This endeavor was a joint project led by Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd. Notably, the latter holds a significant stake in the venture, with 49% owned by China Railway Number 10 Engineering Group Company — the maximum share allowed for a foreign firm in a Thai company according to local laws.

In addition to its Chinese ownership, the company includes three Thai shareholders: Sophon Meechai, the second-largest shareholder with 40.80% of the shares; Prachuab Sirikhet with 10.20%; and Manas Sri-anant, who holds just three shares.

Prof. Suchatchavee Suwansawas, a civil engineer and politician from the Democrat Party, emphasized that something was definitely wrong. “You see all other buildings, even high-rise buildings under construction; they’re safe. So either the design was wrong or the construction was wrong, but it’s too soon to reach conclusions,” he said.