High-Rise Evacuations in Bangkok Following Earthquake Aftershocks

Bangkok witnessed the evacuation of numerous high-rise buildings on Monday afternoon as aftershocks were felt in the city. This occurred three days after a significant earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck Myanmar, with its epicenter identified near Mandalay. The seismic activity has prompted ongoing rescue and recovery operations in both Myanmar and Thailand.

Reports indicate that the aftershocks have been particularly frequent in Myanmar, where the overall situation remains precarious due to the ongoing governance crisis under military rule. As of Monday morning, Thai state television had not provided updated figures regarding casualties or missing persons. However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) did not initially register any aftershocks in the region.

Witnesses in Bangkok reported feeling minor tremors, although significantly less intense than those experienced on the preceding Friday. Authorities opted for precautionary measures, leading to the evacuation of several prominent structures, including the shopping mall One Bangkok, the municipal courthouse, and various government offices, as reported by local media and observers.

In Myanmar, search and rescue operations have yielded positive results, with teams rescuing three individuals from the rubble approximately 60 hours after the initial earthquake. Among those rescued was a five-year-old child, alongside a pregnant woman and a 29-year-old trapped under the collapsed Sky Villa Condo in Mandalay. Additionally, a woman was saved from the ruins of the Great Wall Hotel, with the operation reported by the Chinese embassy in Myanmar.

The military government in Myanmar has communicated figures of 1,700 fatalities, approximately 3,400 injuries, and about 300 individuals still unaccounted for following the disastrous quake. The earthquake, centered near Mandalay, has caused widespread devastation, leading to significant infrastructure damage.

Humanitarian organizations, including Save the Children, have reported that many families are seeking refuge in monasteries and on football fields due to fears of further tremors. Damage to roads and disrupted communication networks have compounded the challenges of delivering aid to affected areas. Notably, the military junta has restricted access for international media to the disaster zone, complicating the situation further.

Reports from local media highlight that residents in the heavily impacted Sagaing region have taken it upon themselves to search for missing persons, given the difficulties faced by rescue teams in reaching certain areas. Concerns have also emerged regarding the environment, with reports indicating a foul odor in the vicinity of the affected areas, raising alarms about potential casualties.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has issued a warning regarding the acute danger faced by millions of children in Myanmar, who are already enduring hardships due to ongoing conflict and displacement. UNICEF's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, emphasized that the earthquake represents another severe blow to vulnerable children. In response, UNICEF is mobilizing 80 tons of emergency supplies and is calling for increased international assistance to support affected families.

In Bangkok, rescue teams are diligently searching for approximately 80 individuals reported missing in the debris of a collapsed construction site. Rescue operations are utilizing heavy machinery and trained dogs to aid in the search. As families wait anxiously for news, the critical 72-hour window for survival without food and water is nearing its end. The latest reports indicate that another victim has been recovered from the rubble, raising the death toll in Bangkok to 18.

Additionally, a separate earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale was recorded near Tonga in the South Pacific, though initial reports did not indicate any damage or injuries. This seismic event is noted as the most powerful quake to have struck Tonga in the last decade, accompanied by several strong aftershocks.