Rescue efforts continue in Bangkok following tremors that collapsed a building

Key Concepts:

• Earthquake in Myanmar (Magnitude 7.7)
• Building collapse in Bangkok, Thailand (33-story high-rise under construction)
• Casualties (deaths and injuries)
• Search and rescue operation
• Building safety assessment
• Disaster relief and support

Building Collapse and Casualties:

• A 33-story building under construction collapsed in Bangkok, Thailand, due to tremors from a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar.
• At least nine people were killed and 22 injured in Bangkok.
• The majority of the dead were workers at the collapsed high-rise building.
• Approximately 100 workers were on the site when the building came down.
• Search and rescue operations are ongoing to find those still unaccounted for.

Search and Rescue Operation:

• Hundreds of teams are going through the rubble to search for victims.
• Heavy equipment has been brought in to clear the rubble.
• High heat, humidity, and fears of further collapse are slowing down the rescue efforts.
• A command center has been set up to coordinate the operation and track victims.

Building Safety Assessment and Response:

• Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anuin Jan Birkun stated that all buildings will need to be assessed, even though only one structure collapsed.
• The Interior Minister issued instructions for all building owners to certify their buildings again.
• Authorities in Bangkok received about 2,000 reports of damage to buildings.
• An army of engineers has been deployed across the city to assess the damage.

Government Response and Relief Efforts:

• Prime Minister Patton Shinowat said official findings into the collapse will be available soon.
• Prime Minister Patton initially instructed the interior ministry to declare Bangkok a disaster zone but later stated that the situation in Bangkok has returned to normal.
• The government will be providing relief and support to those affected by the quake.

Notable Quotes:

• Anuin Jan Birkun: "This side is the most devastating and the rest of the country is uh we have been report uh I I would say um not major damage."
• Anuin Jan Birkun: "We believe that uh the rest of the buildings are uh still within the standard and but however we have already uh issued the instructions to all uh building all occup all building owners to uh certify the buildings once again."

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The earthquake in Myanmar caused significant tremors in Bangkok, leading to the collapse of a high-rise building under construction. The incident resulted in casualties and prompted a large-scale search and rescue operation. The Thai government is assessing building safety, providing relief to those affected, and investigating the cause of the collapse. While the situation is returning to normal, the event has raised concerns about building codes and safety standards in Bangkok.