Earthquake Rocks Bangkok: Building Collapses with 40 people inside

[Rolo89]

7 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

44 floors of prime real-estate. They do have a roof top pool if that is your thing.

Not too far away from a park now open 24/7 so residents can sleep while their building is unsafe to be in. 

[Ralf001]

9 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

44 floors of prime real-estate. They do have a roof top pool if that is your thing.

 

 

 

Nowt wrong with a Tuned Mass Damper on top of a condo.

[MikeandDow]

3 minutes ago, Rolo89 said:

And you know exactly what they're doing? 

 

The building won't have even had a proper survey yet.

correct  without a proper survey and an approved repair procedure they could make the column worse creating a plane of weakness and potential issues with structural integrity and water infiltration.

[ExpatOilWorker]

2 hours ago, Rolo89 said:

Lots of buildings were evacutated two hours ago, reports of another earthquake. But turned out to be false and it's due to structural integrity.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2991772/bangkok-buildings-evacuated-amid-reported-vibrations-cracks

 

 

 

Just a misunderstanding....

 

A misunderstanding led to the evacuation of officials from Building A of the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road this morning.

An official noticed cracks caused by tremors from a strong earthquake in Myanmar on March 28 and alerted the relevant authorities.

 

https://world.thaipbs.or.th/detail/evacuation-at-government-complex-as-building-shakes/57048

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

 However, David Zhang highlights the Chinese construction engineering and quality  issues and points out that the

 

 

 

 

did David point out there was no building collapses in Yunna, China... Whom were hit harder than Bangkok !

[xylophone]

12 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

 dont you think its time for thailand to say enough is enough  stop killing people because of coruption

Sadly, corruption is ingrained in Thai society, endemic if you like, and I don't see that ever changing unless someone like Lee Kuan Yew takes the helm in Thailand, but as I said.......corruption is endemic here so no chance of that happening, sadly.

[MikeandDow]

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

 

did David point out there was no building collapses in Yunna, China... Whom were hit harder than Bangkok !

the quality of the buildings in china top notch  has to be there they shoot you if you get it wrong

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, MikeandDow said:

the quality of the buildings in china top notch  has to be there they shoot you if you get it wrong

must be built to japanese standards then...

[MikeandDow]

4 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

must be built to japanese standards then...

yes,  and not to thai standars

[ExpatOilWorker]

17 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

did David point out there was no building collapses in Yunna, China... Whom were hit harder than Bangkok !

 

[Patong2021]

7 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

did David point out there was no building collapses in Yunna, China... Whom were hit harder than Bangkok !

 

 Why would he be focused on Yunnan, China when the topic is Bangkok? 

Other media have covered some of the Yunnan damage, which did not experience the same magnitude of seismic activity as Thailand. The seismic activity went North South and not East West. Have you even looked at the seismic map?

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000pn9s/shakemap/intensity

 

The urban areas are Yunnan that allowed news reports are on the edge of the mildest of tremor boundaries with Linciang which sustained damage as being outside the  damaging tremor  zone.

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000pn9s/map?shakemap-code=us7000pn9s&shakemap-source=us&shakemap-intensity=false&shakemap-mmi-contours=true&shakemap-stations=true

 

And yes, there was damage sustained in China. even the Chinese released propaganda videos show the damaged and collapsed buildings.

https://www.euronews.com/video/2025/03/28/chinas-yunnan-feels-myanmars-77-earthquake-no-casualties-reported

 

Watch the e\Chinese edited video carefully. The cracked walls and collapsed roof structure  suggest some damage.

 

[Rolo89]

24 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

correct  without a proper survey and an approved repair procedure they could make the column worse creating a plane of weakness and potential issues with structural integrity and water infiltration.

Yes, the drips round the side show they've tried to do something to the compromised structure. Looks like a patch job you'd do on an outbuilding. Not a structure with 44 floors of high end condos.

 

It needed to be assed properly and then have a sign off on any remedial works. No chance this has happened.

 

People are were paying high prices for these condos which aren't anywhere near the standard you'd expect.

[josephbloggs]

13 minutes ago, Rolo89 said:

Yes, the drips round the side show they've tried to do something to the compromised structure. Looks like a patch job you'd do on an outbuilding. Not a structure with 44 floors of high end condos.

 

It needed to be assed properly and then have a sign off on any remedial works. No chance this has happened.

 

People are were paying high prices for these condos which aren't anywhere near the standard you'd expect.

How much load is that column supporting? It isn't necessarily the entire building, could just be that roof. No one here knows (including me).

Also how do we know this is their fix? Might it not be a temporary measure to prevent water or weather damage to the rebar while they wait for a proper inspection? Again, no one here knows yet everyone jumps to conclusions (and they are always always the Thai bashing conclusions).

[richard_smith237]

On 3/29/2025 at 4:27 PM, John Drake said:

I realize you haven't got much to do with your life other than hang out on this forum and try to pick fights, but be aware at least that the term, "tofu" applied to Chinese construction, comes from the Chinese themselves. In fact, it was a former Chinese premier who coined it.

 

Ironically, you managed to grace this forum with your presence at the exact same time to reply! How delightful it is when those who criticise others for spending too much time on forums are themselves such frequent participants.

 

Now, let's address the numbers: My post count averages around five per day. Yours? Roughly 2.5. Let’s be honest here - it doesn’t exactly take a marathon to fire off two or five posts a day. Or does each of your posts take so long to craft that those 2.5 daily contributions require a significant portion of your day?

 

I’ll admit it - I do enjoy my time on this forum. The discussions are more engaging than the mind-numbing drivel of TV, YouTube, or TikTok. So, in that sense, your critique falls flat. It’s a weak attempt at retaliation, clearly born from the sting of unintelligent comments being exposed for what they are.

 

But let’s refocus on the real issue: Tofu Buildings. It hardly matters who first coined the term - what’s more important is that none of Bangkok’s occupied buildings collapsed, and there was no widespread loss of life. That’s a testament to the quality of construction, not the tofu-like fragility you’re so eager to imply. The term was only ever used here as a cheap shot to degrade Thai standards.

 

Now, let’s put things into perspective. Had a seismic event of similar localised magnitude struck a city like London or Paris  the damage might have been far worse. We can’t know for sure. What we do know, however, is that a major event in Bangkok didn’t result in a massive loss of life, unlike what we’ve seen in other places under comparable circumstances.

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Was this then a pilot project, with many more Chinese projects to come? Or are there several completed already?

 

It seems, they (the Chinese involved) were very proud of their work.... before it collapsed in spectacular and deadly fashion:

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/glange3/posts/pfbid02qeDSXcYMVDh9DVAoaYaJByhNv23RrxMWNkNZ1QjaubUMRUJT71Q1K69gWrAxp2tal

 

"Ironically, promotional posts about Thailand's new Audit Office building are still visible online, celebrating its completion of structural work and final concrete pour.

Built by the China Railway Tenth Bureau Urban Construction Company, it was hailed as Thailand’s first international-class high-rise. Now, after Friday’s earthquake, there's painful irony in those words."

 

Link:

 

https://news.goalfore.cn/topstories/detail/63177.html

 

 

Google Translation of the Chinese text:

 

The main structure of the new Audit Bureau office building in Thailand has been successfully capped

China Railway 10th Bureau Group    2024-04-03 10:59:03

 

"With the last concrete poured successfully

The project was built by China Railway 10th Bureau Urban Construction Company.

The world's first overseas super high-rise building

Thailand's new Audit Bureau office building

The main structure was successfully capped

Fully entered the decoration and renovation construction stage."

...

After completion, it will mainly serve the National Audit Bureau of Thailand and other relevant government functional departments, and will be a business card for China Railway 10th Bureau's development in Thailand. [emphasis added]

 

"The main building of the new Audit Bureau office building is 137 meters high, with a structural form of "core tube + beamless floor". The core tube adopts the slipform construction technology, the beamless floor adopts the lifting form installation process, and the external frame adopts the climbing frame construction process.

...

Daily inspections are strengthened to urge the project to strengthen safety and quality standardization management, strictly implement local, national and industry regulations, and ensure that safety and quality control measures are in place."

 

Short version of the above - the building was structurally COMPLETE when it collapsed. The remaining finishing and fitting work to be done had nothing to do with the structural integrity of the building.  And that's a scary but important thing to understand.

 

 

 

 

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

18 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

It seems, they (the Chinese involved) were very proud of their work.... before it collapsed in spectacular and deadly fashion:

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/glange3/posts/pfbid02qeDSXcYMVDh9DVAoaYaJByhNv23RrxMWNkNZ1QjaubUMRUJT71Q1K69gWrAxp2tal

 

"Ironically, promotional posts about Thailand's new Audit Office building are still visible online, celebrating its completion of structural work and final concrete pour.

Built by the China Railway Tenth Bureau Urban Construction Company, it was hailed as Thailand’s first international-class high-rise. Now, after Friday’s earthquake, there's painful irony in those words."

 

Link:

 

https://news.goalfore.cn/topstories/detail/63177.html

 

 

Google Translation of the Chinese text:

 

The main structure of the new Audit Bureau office building in Thailand has been successfully capped

China Railway 10th Bureau Group    2024-04-03 10:59:03

 

"With the last concrete poured successfully

The project was built by China Railway 10th Bureau Urban Construction Company.

The world's first overseas super high-rise building

Thailand's new Audit Bureau office building

The main structure was successfully capped

Fully entered the decoration and renovation construction stage."

...

After completion, it will mainly serve the National Audit Bureau of Thailand and other relevant government functional departments, and will be a business card for China Railway 10th Bureau's development in Thailand. [emphasis added]

 

"The main building of the new Audit Bureau office building is 137 meters high, with a structural form of "core tube + beamless floor". The core tube adopts the slipform construction technology, the beamless floor adopts the lifting form installation process, and the external frame adopts the climbing frame construction process.

...

Daily inspections are strengthened to urge the project to strengthen safety and quality standardization management, strictly implement local, national and industry regulations, and ensure that safety and quality control measures are in place."

 

Short version of the above - the building was structurally COMPLETE when it collapsed. The remaining finishing and fitting work to be done had nothing to do with the structural integrity of the building.  And that's a scary but important thing to understand.

 

 

 

 

 

Strange they haven't scrubbed this off the Internet. 

https://news.goalfore.cn/topstories/detail/63177.html

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just now, ExpatOilWorker said:

Strange they haven't scrubbed this off the Internet. 

https://news.goalfore.cn/topstories/detail/63177.html

 

They were busy trying to scrub the construction site of relevant project documents.... until they got caught and arrested for doing so....

 

 

[Rolo89]

51 minutes ago, Rolo89 said:

It needed to be assed properly and then have a sign off on any remedial works. No chance this has happened.

Assessed!

 

Freudian slip, they've assed it good and proper 🤣

[pedro01]

54 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

How much load is that column supporting? It isn't necessarily the entire building, could just be that roof. No one here knows (including me).

Also how do we know this is their fix? Might it not be a temporary measure to prevent water or weather damage to the rebar while they wait for a proper inspection? Again, no one here knows yet everyone jumps to conclusions (and they are always always the Thai bashing conclusions).

 

I lived in Japan a while, in a pre-WW2 building. 

 

The quake in Bangkok was 4-5, not 7.7. Similar quakes when I was there didn't even dislodge a ceiling tile.

 

About 3 mins after a quake, there would be an announcement telling people what the strength was & what to do. After earthquakes of this size, it was "open all cupboards, stand back in case something falls out".

 

The Bangkok damage seems relatively severe.

[MikeandDow]

17 minutes ago, pedro01 said:

 

I lived in Japan a while, in a pre-WW2 building. 

 

The quake in Bangkok was 4-5, not 7.7. Similar quakes when I was there didn't even dislodge a ceiling tile.

 

About 3 mins after a quake, there would be an announcement telling people what the strength was & what to do. After earthquakes of this size, it was "open all cupboards, stand back in case something falls out".

 

The Bangkok damage seems relatively severe.

wonder how they repaired it

[Rolo89]

10 minutes ago, pedro01 said:

 

I lived in Japan a while, in a pre-WW2 building. 

 

The quake in Bangkok was 4-5, not 7.7. Similar quakes when I was there didn't even dislodge a ceiling tile.

 

About 3 mins after a quake, there would be an announcement telling people what the strength was & what to do. After earthquakes of this size, it was "open all cupboards, stand back in case something falls out".

 

The Bangkok damage seems relatively severe.

Good post. Certain people won't have any time for common sence posts like this (they've probably invested in condos build in the last 20 years that could be worthless or worth way less than bought for).

 

In Japan quakes of similar magnitude might have made a glass fall from a table and be a minor inconvenience, but that's about the extent of the damage. Not left buildings uninhabitable for the foreseable.  

[newnative]

On 3/30/2025 at 4:59 PM, scubascuba3 said:

How about the load bearing walls/pillars in the condo block,  carpark etc?

     We received word from the condo management that the engineer from the municipality inspected the condo building and deemed it safe.  Residents have posted photos and the damage seems to be similar to ours--vertical cracks and some horizontal cracks where the walls meet the ceiling--we have some of those, too.  We also discovered that one of our floor to ceiling wall mirrors has a small, horizontal crack right at the top.  We might be able to hide that with molding.  It looks like we will need to re-wallpaper a number of areas--we saw that, as well, in photos posted by other owners with wallpaper.  

[Rolo89]

13 minutes ago, newnative said:

We received word from the condo management that the engineer from the municipality inspected the condo building and deemed it safe.

You can't trust them.

 

All they can say at the moment is from inital checks it appears to be safe, but futher more detailed testing is needed to verify there is no structural damage. 

[MikeandDow]

9 minutes ago, Rolo89 said:

You can't trust them.

 

All they can say at the moment is from inital checks it appears to be safe, but futher more detailed testing is needed to verify there is no structural damage. 

need a licensed structural engineer  the guy from municipality could be a shxthouse cleaner and no verbal acceptance

[anchadian]

The steel used in the construction of the collapsed State Audit Office building in Chatuchak came from Sin Ker Yuan, a company which was charged in January for producing substandard steel.

 

Previous investigation by the Ministry of Industry revealed that the rebar produced by the company, located in Ban Khai District, Rayong, did not meet required standards, particularly affecting its strength. The ministry seized 2,441 tons of non-compliant steel, valued at approximately 49.2 million baht, and announced plans to take legal action against the company in January

 

https://x.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/1906662052925714514

 

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, anchadian said:

The steel used in the construction of the collapsed State Audit Office building in Chatuchak came from Sin Ker Yuan, a company which was charged in January for producing substandard steel.

 

Previous investigation by the Ministry of Industry revealed that the rebar produced by the company, located in Ban Khai District, Rayong, did not meet required standards, particularly affecting its strength. The ministry seized 2,441 tons of non-compliant steel, valued at approximately 49.2 million baht, and announced plans to take legal action against the company in January

 

https://x.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/1906662052925714514

 

 

Any proof  other than a twitter comment ?

[MikeandDow]

9 minutes ago, anchadian said:

The steel used in the construction of the collapsed State Audit Office building in Chatuchak came from Sin Ker Yuan, a company which was charged in January for producing substandard steel.

 

Previous investigation by the Ministry of Industry revealed that the rebar produced by the company, located in Ban Khai District, Rayong, did not meet required standards, particularly affecting its strength. The ministry seized 2,441 tons of non-compliant steel, valued at approximately 49.2 million baht, and announced plans to take legal action against the company in January

 

https://x.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/1906662052925714514

 

interesting,  but tip of the iceberg !  did this company  do its job !! or not ,PKW Joint Venture for 74.65 million baht ($2.2 million) to supervise and certify material quality testing

big can of worms starting to unfold

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Rolo89 said:

Good post. Certain people won't have any time for common sence posts like this (they've probably invested in condos build in the last 20 years that could be worthless or worth way less than bought for).

 

In Japan quakes of similar magnitude might have made a glass fall from a table and be a minor inconvenience, but that's about the extent of the damage. Not left buildings uninhabitable for the foreseable.  

 

But you are not making a fair comparison - Japan and Tokyo exists on a major Tectonic boundary, building codes in Tokyo are far more strict as a result.

 

During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, Tokyo's skyscrapers experienced significant swaying due to the seismic activity - a localised MMI Magnitude of VII was reported, where as in Bangkok the Maximum was VI.

 

Its true that had the same building codes that are applied in Bangkok been applied to Buildings in Tokyo damage would have been much more severe - but thats by design, or rather lack there of due to a different geological setting with regards to proximity to major plate boundaries (Japan is situated on whats known as the 'ring of fire' - which I'm sure many have herd of).

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, MikeandDow said:

need a licensed structural engineer  the guy from municipality could be a shxthouse cleaner and no verbal acceptance

 

The BMA seems to be relying on some vaguely defined corps of volunteer "inspectors" to do their building structural surveying checks.

 

I haven't seen any explanation or clarification of just what kind of qualifications, if any, they're requiring of those who are making those inspections and judgments about buildings.

 

In the latest BMA public briefing provided tonight, the Thai government rep in English reported that only TWO residential buildings in BMA jurisdiction out of some 350 inspected thus far had been declared temporarily uninhabitable.

----------------------------

 

PS - I got a laugh out of your comment above, because in my neighborhood of BKK, the condo building handymen who do various repair and maintenance work often seem to be referred to as "engineers"!  

 

I certainly hope they're not the ones doing the structural building inspections, nor the BMA staff who do all kinds of other, unrelated "inspection" duties.

 

Separately, the national government seems to be pushing extraordinarily hard right now to persuade everyone that everything is OK and nothing's really wrong in BKK... They've even launched a PR campaign for it, as follows:

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16JLfMV2JM/

 

[MikeandDow]

8 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

The BMA seems to be relying on some vaguely defined corps of volunteer "inspectors" to do their building structural surveying checks.

 

I haven't seen any explanation or clarification of just what kind of qualifications, if any, they're requiring of those who are making those inspections and judgments about buildings.

 

In the latest BMA public briefing provided tonight, the Thai government rep in English reported that only TWO residential buildings in BMA jurisdiction out of some 350 inspected thus far had been declared temporarily uninhabitable.

----------------------------

 

PS - I got a laugh out of your comment above, because in my neighborhood of BKK, the condo building handymen who do various repair and maintenance work often seem to be referred to as "engineers"!  

 

I certainly hope they're not the ones doing the structural building inspections, nor the BMA staff who do all kinds of other, unrelated "inspection" duties.

 

Separately, the national government seems to be pushing extraordinarily hard right now to persuade everyone that everything is OK and nothing's really wrong in BKK... They've even launched a PR campaign for it, as follows:

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16JLfMV2JM/

 

of course they are worried NOT SAFE NO TOURIST     yes and they will have the shxthouse cleaner inspecting  the damage with instructions every thing fine all ok guarantee