The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has declared six severely damaged condominiums unfit for habitation following a powerful earthquake in Myanmar that caused tremors in the Thai capital. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that nearly 1,000 reports have been received from affected building management teams, and assessments have been carried out.
Chadchart reported that the earthquake caused damage to many high-rise buildings in Bangkok. The BMA has stationed five to six expert engineers at the command centre to assess structural integrity. “So far, six buildings have been deemed severely affected and unfit for occupancy. Engineers will conduct further on-site assessments by tonight,” he said at a press conference after meeting Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The BMA has mobilised expert engineers from both government and private sectors across Bangkok to aid in building inspections. “The Prime Minister has also instructed other agencies with engineers to join the effort to expedite the recovery process,” Chadchart added.
Due to the earthquake, traffic in Bangkok was paralysed, leading to the temporary suspension of all light rail mass transit operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) and Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT). Many people left work and school immediately but were caught in severe congestion, while others were seen walking home.
Chadchart stated that Lumpini, Benjasiri, Benjakitti, and Chatuchak parks would remain open throughout Friday night to accommodate those unable to return home. City Hall provided mobile toilets and distributed drinking water at these parks for disaster victims who felt unsafe in their homes.
The Bangkok Emergency Medical Centre, or Erawan Centre, has reported six fatalities due to the earthquake. As of 9.30 pm local time on Friday, the Erawan Centre confirmed that the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak resulted in five deaths, while a crane collapse at the Bang Pho intersection caused one fatality.
Thai local media reported that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced that all flights into and out of Bangkok were operating normally following the earthquake.
