Rescue teams are racing against time to locate workers trapped under a collapsed office building after a massive earthquake struck Bangkok, with around 80 individuals still unaccounted for as the critical survival window closes.
**Death Toll Rises as Rescuers Scramble After Bangkok Earthquake**
**Death Toll Rises as Rescuers Scramble After Bangkok Earthquake**
Rescue efforts in Thailand and Myanmar face challenges as hopes of survival dwindle following a devastating quake.
Rescue operations continued in Bangkok following a catastrophic earthquake that struck late last week, causing significant destruction and loss of life. As the situation evolves, rescue teams from various countries, including Thailand, China, the United States, and Israel, have collaborated in search efforts, focusing on a collapsed office tower where many workers remain unaccounted for.
On Sunday night, rescuers believed they had found a breakthrough when a passage to the basement was uncovered, revealing a spacious area that suggested some victims might have survived. “Our hopes were high,” remarked Piyalux Thinkaew, chief of operations for the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. However, hopes turned to despair as the area was ultimately empty.
The following day brought a flicker of optimism when infrared sensors detected potential signs of life. Yet, as time passed with no rescues reported, confidence began to wane. By Monday, the critical 72-hour survival window—known as the golden window—had closed without any successful recoveries, leading to a sense of disappointment among teams on-site.
Around 80 individuals are estimated to still be trapped in the debris, with officials unable to classify the operation as rescue anymore. “Hope is dimming,” admitted Mr. Piyalux. “We’re very disappointed.” Family members and friends of the missing gathered anxiously outside the site, awaiting news of their loved ones while the search efforts pressed on, fueled by remnants of hope amid uncertainty.
