Desperate Rescue Efforts Continue as Survivors are Detected Beneath Bangkok Skyscraper Rubble

With the search efforts now entering their second day, families are anxiously awaiting updates on their missing loved ones as officials remain committed to uncovering the truth behind the building's collapse.

At least 15 people are believed to be trapped but alive beneath the rubble of a collapsed skyscraper in Bangkok after a powerful earthquake, registering 7.7 on the Richter scale, devastated areas in Myanmar and Thailand. Rescuers have communicated with some of the survivors under the wreckage, raising hopes amid a grim situation in which many workers are still unaccounted for.

The quake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, on Friday afternoon, claiming hundreds of lives at the epicenter and impacting communities as far away as Thailand, China, and India. It led to widespread destruction with reports detailing flattened buildings and toppled structures in the Saigaing region and Mandalay. Officials in Myanmar have confirmed that over 1,000 people have died, and 2,376 reported injured as a direct result of the disaster.

In Bangkok, thousands felt the tremors, with reports flooding in detailing cracks appearing in numerous buildings. Fortunately, the capital has remained mostly unharmed, with the unfinished auditor-general’s office being the sole site of significant damage. This 30-storey skyscraper, once a striking blue-glass structure, now lies in ruins, its debris towering over rescue crews.

Among the more than 400 construction workers present at the site, roughly 96 have been reported missing, while eight fatalities have been confirmed alongside another eight injured, many suspected to be Burmese nationals employed in Thailand’s construction sector.

The rescue operation, bolstered by drones, sniffer dogs, cranes, and excavators, is urgent, especially after rescuers detected signs of life amid the wreckage, approximately 5 to 10 meters below the surface. Officials reported they heard cries for help from survivors along with detecting movements and body heat indicating that some may still be alive.

"Some signs of life we received last night have since gone silent," an official urged, emphasizing the need for prayers and strength. As the building continues to crumble further, the intricate rescue efforts face challenges, limiting the use of heavy machinery.

Meanwhile, families of the missing have gathered near the site, their worry palpable as they clung to the hope of seeing their loved ones. One woman, Naruemol, expressed her desperation, saying, "I wanted to come here … I just need to see him once, in whatever condition he's in." Similarly, another relative voiced their fears about the slim chances of survival for their missing cousins.

Government leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnweerakul, have assured the public they will persist in their search efforts until everyone has been accounted for. "We will keep working until there is no one left inside… We always have hope," he stated.

Over this developing situation, real-time updates continue to flow in as communities rally support for the ongoing rescue efforts.