Earthquake Rocks Bangkok: Building Collapses with 40 people inside

[scubascuba3]

50 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

I wonder how many 100’s of Bangkok Condos will be condemned as unsafe after inspection for damage from the earthquake? 
imagine if it wasn’t 1200km away

There will be massive reluctance and pressure not to condemn any, certainly I wouldn't buy in Bangkok unless a massive discount 

[scubascuba3]

Silom area. Only superficial?

[scubascuba3]

The advertising has started, it's going to be expensive

[pedro01]

Bizarrely - klongs in my area are empty now.

[stevenl]

5 hours ago, Celsius said:

Someone posted pictures of this condo yesterday claiming there was no damage. They took a clear photo completely avoiding the entrance. All this damage from tremors that are less than 5 on Richter scale 

 

This video tells another story. Name of condo Life Ladprao Valley 

 

Careful, we have some massive liars with the agenda here.....

 

 

 

 

No structural damage in that video.

[stevenl]

5 hours ago, Celsius said:

Someone posted pictures of this condo yesterday claiming there was no damage. They took a clear photo completely avoiding the entrance. All this damage from tremors that are less than 5 on Richter scale 

 

This video tells another story. Name of condo Life Ladprao Valley 

 

Careful, we have some massive liars with the agenda here.....

 

 

 

 

No structural damage in that video.

[actonion]

On 3/28/2025 at 4:56 PM, MikeandDow said:

Thai Constuction  !!    there is No quality or safety in Thai construction   no standards in  design   design approval by coruption   so what do you expect !!

Just like the elevated freeways  around Bangkok   that collapsed a few weeks ago, more to come no doubt.. cutting corners,  cheap steel , to line a few pockets

[fondue zoo]

23 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

And so it begins...

 

 

Yeah, corruption has to be taken into account. I know it sounds sh🙊tty but I am having a hard time believing anything they report here at the moment.

The probability of an envelope with a sign off, or just incompetence, it has happened plenty in other countries over the years.

Juristic staff have become annoyed here in our condo, farang owners/tenants all want to know who came to check, copy of the report etc.

 

The real test will be the next shake. Stay safe.

 

[Liverpool Lou]

20 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

22 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Would I?  But I wasn't talking about Thais, I was referring to Americans.

Indeed, but you pretend that you know everything and comment on everybody without even knowing if what you say is true...Check with here in Thailand with the people living here and you have proof or don't say anything about others if you can't proof it

I made a suggestion about Americans' knowledge of their country's geographical location ("50% of them probably don't even know where the US is!"), something that I am entitled to do on this forum.   It is not something that I have to prove anymore than you have to prove that the following statement that you made is true...

"Ask a Thai on a map to show where Thailand is... You would be surprised"

So, to use your words, "don't say anything about others if you can't proof it" [sic]

 

I do not "pretend to know everything" but the comments that I make are generally accurate  but, if you can specify any of my posts that have factually incorrect claims, please quote them here and I will address them.  Bear in mind that my opinions are not claims that have to be proven.   

[Ralf001]

3 hours ago, actonion said:

Just like the elevated freeways  around Bangkok   that collapsed a few weeks ago, more to come no doubt.. cutting corners,  cheap steel , to line a few pockets

 

There was one that collapsed... it too was also under construction !

 

 

[Buffy Frobisher]

3 hours ago, actonion said:

Just like the elevated freeways  around Bangkok   that collapsed a few weeks ago, more to come no doubt.. cutting corners,  cheap steel , to line a few pockets

 

Do we have any qualified engineers here who might be able to tell me if I'm right or wrong? 

 

Looking at all the exposed rebar at the Chatuchak site, and there's a lot of it exposed. most rebar I see is clean, almost shiny in the sun. In my experience, this rebar should have lumps of hardened concrete hanging off it, and the rebar itself is usually darker with rough rings around to help it reinforce the cement. And a lot of the broken cement looks very powdery, not rock solid as you'd expect on a 30-storey building.

 

Is it possible that to meet what was left of the budget after "expenses", poor quality cement and/or rebar was used by "China Railway No 10 Engineering Company" and it's subs? There would have been no thought of it being exposed by an earthquake, of all things. 🤫

 

[madone]

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Silom area. Only superficial?

that is not state tower is it?

[Anton9]

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

There will be massive reluctance and pressure not to condemn any, certainly I wouldn't buy in Bangkok unless a massive discount 

No one is going to sell you a condo discounted now when in 6 months no one will even remember about the earthquake

[fondue zoo]

 

Not sure if it was announced only today, the Bangkok Governor has ordered compliance checks for a list of building types.

 

 

 

[Rolo89]

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

There will be massive reluctance and pressure not to condemn any, certainly I wouldn't buy in Bangkok unless a massive discount 

A friends condo has cracks in the support structures that you can see on the car parks on the lower levels. They were all evacuated and then told a few hours later that it had been checked and said it's all safe 🤨

 

I'm sure they conducted a full structural assesment with an expert that quickly 🤣

 

I wouldn't buy at half the price, it'll be hard to tell what buildings have been checked by someone indpendant and professional. 

[Patong2021]

40 minutes ago, Buffy Frobisher said:

 

Do we have any qualified engineers here who might be able to tell me if I'm right or wrong? 

 

Looking at all the exposed rebar at the Chatuchak site, and there's a lot of it exposed. most rebar I see is clean, almost shiny in the sun. In my experience, this rebar should have lumps of hardened concrete hanging off it, and the rebar itself is usually darker with rough rings around to help it reinforce the cement. And a lot of the broken cement looks very powdery, not rock solid as you'd expect on a 30-storey building.

 

Is it possible that to meet what was left of the budget after "expenses", poor quality cement and/or rebar was used by "China Railway No 10 Engineering Company" and it's subs? There would have been no thought of it being exposed by an earthquake, of all things. 🤫

 

 

It seems to be a lot simpler than that.

David Zhang's China Insider website has highlighted the alleged poor design of the building. According to him, the building structure was already complete with the Chinese builder saying that it had been "capped". The windows and cladding were not necessary for the building's integrity. China has decribed this as an "audit" building to  showcase its new earthquake resistant design based upon a top down concept. The design failed. According to  David Zhang, China has since been removing references to its  new design and the fact that the. building was a demonstration  version of the technology that would lead the world.

 

Let's see if the Thai government is willing to  hold the Chinese responsible for this catastrophe. Hopefully, the Course of Coinstruction/Builder's Risk it was insured using Chinese insurers so that Thai policy holders do not have to cover this.

[MikeandDow]

43 minutes ago, Buffy Frobisher said:

 

Do we have any qualified engineers here who might be able to tell me if I'm right or wrong? 

 

Looking at all the exposed rebar at the Chatuchak site, and there's a lot of it exposed. most rebar I see is clean, almost shiny in the sun. In my experience, this rebar should have lumps of hardened concrete hanging off it, and the rebar itself is usually darker with rough rings around to help it reinforce the cement. And a lot of the broken cement looks very powdery, not rock solid as you'd expect on a 30-storey building.

 

Is it possible that to meet what was left of the budget after "expenses", poor quality cement and/or rebar was used by "China Railway No 10 Engineering Company" and it's subs? There would have been no thought of it being exposed by an earthquake, of all things. 🤫

 

 If cement isn't adhering to rebar, it could be due to several factors, including improper mixing, placement, or the use of a mix that is too dry or too wet, or the rebar being coated or contaminated, western construction rebar is stored off the ground and cleaned before use, curing agents are used in western construction  chinse are living in dark ages they still use beding straw  to cure concrete  which is totally non effective for high strength concrete

[scubascuba3]

49 minutes ago, Anton9 said:

No one is going to sell you a condo discounted now when in 6 months no one will even remember about the earthquake

I don't think people will forget this time

[scubascuba3]

59 minutes ago, madone said:

that is not state tower is it?

The facebook post just said Silom

[Rolo89]

27 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Let's see if the Thai government is willing to  hold the Chinese responsible for this catastrophe.

I can't see them holding the Chinese to account. There's too much money coming from them.

 

Chinese people behind the collapsed building were apparenly seen fleeing with lots of documents 

 

https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/bangkok/2850054

 

[Hawaiian]

On 3/28/2025 at 7:29 AM, HampiK said:

I think a not finished building is not as strong as when finished. As some buildings need the window inserted to reach full strength.
So it's a big tragedy... I just saw at least 1 worker could be saved alive. I hope they can find more of the missing workers alive.

Poured concrete reaches 70 to 90 percent of its strength during the first 7 to 21 days.  I wouldn't rely on windows for added strength.

[Hawaiian]

On 3/28/2025 at 5:15 AM, Patong2021 said:

 

Looks to me like the typical Pancake collapse. As one floor collapses onto the lower floor, the floor cannot support the weight and it in turn collapses. It is similar to the collapse of the  WTC twin towers  on 9/11.

Buildings are not designed for slabs to carry the weight of collapsed columns and beams.

[MikeandDow]

1 minute ago, Hawaiian said:

Poured concrete reaches 70 to 90 percent of its strength during the first 7 to 21 days.  I wouldn't rely on windows for added strength.

all depends if a curing agent is used or not without a spec desgn mix its just guess work

[Rolo89]

21 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I don't think people will forget this time

Agree. I'm not sure people will easily forget the poor quality of the buildings that aren't up to the spec promised all to maximise profits.

 

This earthquake over 1000km away was a little test, and BKK failed.

 

I think this could be the final straw for lots of people - really poor air quality where you can't leave the condo for many days of the year, buildings that will be very dangerous if a strong earthquake hits, worldwide taxation, officials that you can't trust. 

 

The negatives are very quickly outweighing the positives of BKK.

[MikeandDow]

if you think that this goverment is going to hold a chinse company responsible you are dreaming, this will be swept  under the carpet and forgotten in a couple of weeks

[Ralf001]

6 minutes ago, Rolo89 said:

 

 

This earthquake over 1000km away was a little test, and BKK failed.

 

 

 1 building out of thousands collapsed.... how did BKK fail ?

[Hawaiian]

On 3/28/2025 at 3:55 PM, MikeandDow said:

And you do !!  I very much doubt it !!   Thai construction  is very much in the dark ages  No qualiy in construction, No safety,   Coruption !   workers on site in flip flops  and you are saying thats ok !! go get a life !

One of my best friends in Thailand is a retired project manager.  I've been on his job sites and watched him in action.  He would not allow any deviation from the construction plans. However, I would say he is the exception rather tan the rule.

[Rolo89]

11 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 1 building out of thousands collapsed.... how did BKK fail ?

New buildings that were supposted to withstand much stronger earthquakes were damaged to the extent of being uninhabitable.

 

BKK failed with a lot of damage. If this had of happened in Japan there would be minimal damage and back to normal quickly. Loads of lift shafts are ruined. There are huge bills and huge repairs coming for thousands of buildings. But who will pay it?

 

[Ralf001]

Just now, Rolo89 said:

New buildings that were supposted to withstand much stronger earthquakes were damaged to the extent of being uninhabitable.

 

 

 

 

 

They are designed to not collapse,  how did BKK fail ?

 

 

[MikeandDow]

3 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

One of my best friends in Thailand is a retired project manager.  I've been on his job sites and watched him in action.  He would not allow any deviation from the construction plans. However, I would say he is the exception rather tan the rule.

There is one problem  he might be the exception  but sticking rigidly to the construction plan is not the answer a monkey can do the job   it is experience and being able to question and alter the plan for the better  what if the plan is wrong ??  sticking to the plan just inbuids the faults  there are far and a few thais  to go against there bosses