The devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and sent shockwaves through Thailand has claimed at least 6 lives in Bangkok as of March 29, 2025. The catastrophic tremor, which occurred during Thailand’s warm spring season, has left the capital city reeling from unprecedented destruction and launched a massive rescue effort that continues around the clock.
The moment Bangkok stood still: Eyewitness accounts
As temperatures hovered around 95°F in Bangkok yesterday afternoon, the ground suddenly began to tremble. “The whole building began to move, immediately there was screaming and a lot of panic,” described Fraser Morton, a tourist who was in one of Bangkok’s high-rise hotels when the earthquake hit. Seismic waves traveled across the region like ripples in a pond, turning what should have been a pleasant spring day into a nightmare.
“I’ve experienced minor tremors before, but nothing prepared me for feeling the ground shake beneath me for a full minute,” says Dr. Maya Suthichai, a Bangkok resident and public health specialist. “It was as if the earth itself had turned into a giant massage chair with the settings turned too high.”
The collapsed building near Chatuchak Market
The most devastating impact in Bangkok occurred near the popular Chatuchak weekend market, where a building under construction collapsed completely. Emergency services report 6 confirmed deaths, 22 injured, and approximately 101 people still missing beneath the rubble as of this morning.
“Seven people were found alive” in the rubble of the collapsed building in Bangkok, shared Rescue Worker Songwut Wangpon, who has been working tirelessly with his team since the disaster struck.
Rescue operations face significant challenges due to structural instability and ongoing aftershocks. Teams are using specialized K9 units and drone technology to locate survivors trapped in air pockets within the debris.
Emergency response measures across the city
The Thai government has implemented several urgent measures:
- Suspension of all public transportation including the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway
- Temporary halt of stock market trading
- Evacuation of all high-rise buildings until structural safety can be confirmed
- Deployment of emergency medical teams at designated safe zones throughout Bangkok
The ripple effect: From Myanmar to Thailand’s shores
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sagaing, Myanmar, approximately 6 miles from Mandalay. The death toll in Myanmar has reached 694 and continues to climb as rescue efforts progress in remote areas.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an emergency meeting to coordinate the national response. Meanwhile, tsunami warnings initially triggered along Thailand’s coastal areas have been lifted, bringing some relief to the spring tourism season.
Luxury hotels become disaster zones
Bangkok’s infinity pools became waterfalls during the tremors, as water sloshed violently out of rooftop swimming areas. The city’s skyline, normally alive with tourists enjoying spring breaks, became a scene of mass evacuations.
Dr. Kittipong Chakravarty, a structural engineering expert at Chulalongkorn University explains: “High-rise buildings are designed to sway during earthquakes, like palm trees bending in the wind rather than snapping. However, buildings under construction lack these completed safety systems.”
What residents should do now
- Avoid damaged buildings and follow official evacuation orders
- Prepare emergency supplies including water, non-perishable food, and medications
- Stay informed through government emergency channels
- Check on vulnerable neighbors, especially elderly residents
Residents reported feeling the ground shake for 60 terrifying seconds during the initial quake. Aftershocks continue to rattle nerves across the city as buildings swayed visibly during the most powerful tremors.
Will Bangkok’s infrastructure prove resilient as aftershocks continue through this spring season? Only time will tell, but the spirit of Thai people shines through disaster, as communities come together to support each other through this unprecedented crisis.