Thailand: More than 100 people trapped under collapsed building in Bangkok; samples suggest to substandard steel use
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday 28 March has killed over 1700 people and has caused widespread damage to infrastructure across the country. The Red Cross has described the disaster as “a level of devastation that hasn’t been seen over a century in Asia”.
In Bangkok, Thailand, a 30-storey tower under construction for the State Audit Office (SAO) building collapsed due to an earthquake. A crew of 320 workers, including migrant workers from Myanmar, was on site during the incident. As of April 17, 2025, 103 victims have been reported; 44 have been confirmed dead, nine injured, and 50 remain missing. Identified victims include 22 Thai people, 10 people from Myanmar and one person from Cambodia.
The building was being constructed by China Railway 10th Bureau as part of a consortium with Thai construction firm Italian-Thai. According to Radio Free Asia, it is currently unclear why the building collapsed, while other buildings in Bangkok did not due to earthquake proofing.
Reporting by Radio Free Asia says the disaster highlights the “precarious conditions” experienced by migrant workers in Thailand. The article emphasises how migrants from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos often labour in the “riskiest” industries with limited protections.
Reporting by ABC News says the Chinese government has censored references to the collapse, and China Railway Number 10 deleted all posts about the construction from its WeChat account. The Thai government has launched an investigation into the incident. ABC attempted to contact Chinese social media companies, Weibo and Rednote, and China Railway Number 10, its parent company China Railway Group, and the Italian-Thai Development Company, about the incident but didn't receive a reply.