Earthquake Rocks Bangkok: Building Collapses with 40 people inside

[Patong2021]

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

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.

 

 

I am fairly confident in the strength  and integrity of Thailand's newer builds. However, I don't think that's where  the exposure is.

London and Paris have a lower risk of earth movement  than Bangkok so not a good comparison. The real exposure for Bangkok is that it is built on wetlands with alluvial soil, which can amplify incoming ground motion even from events occurring hundreds of kilometers distant. The ground motion experienced at locations on deep alluvial basins can be further amplified above and beyond what would be expected using the near-surface soil stiffness parameter only.  I am more worried about the risk of liquification.  We saw it in Tokyo in the big quake from 2011 when reclaimed areas turned to mush. However, Japan* had  undertaken multiple preventative measures to mitigate the risk of damage.   I am not aware of the same level of concern in Thailand.  Experts have been warning that Bangkok is sinking. Well, if it is sinking, it is unlikely that  any big effort has been made to control the ground water levels  and so the risk of liquiification is hight. It would be  deadly catastrophic if t= a big tremor hit when the city was in the grips of the annual monsoon and the. streets were flooded.

 

* For reference purposes; In Japan, many remediation methods against liquefaction have been developed since the 1964 Niigata earthquake. The methods are classified into two categories: Ground treatments to prevent liquefaction, and measure that strengthen structures to prevent or minimise damage if the ground liquefies. The remediation methods have been applied to many kinds of structures, such as oil tanks, quay walls, bridges and buildings. The effectiveness of ground treatments in preventing liquefaction has been proved during past earthquakes.

 

 

 

[roo860]

Watching the Thai news yesterday, the K9 search dogs being treated for damage to their paws, with all due respect wouldn't their welfare be considered, wearing protective paw 'shoes', also some of the dogs seemed to be owned by civilians, not rescue or military.

[CharlieH]

Off topic post and response removed.

 

[Rimmer]

Also now removed a post discussing red-giant-stars. Please stop replying to off topic posts and posts that have obviously been removed or will be removed.

[This Guy]

On 3/29/2025 at 10:21 AM, Ralf001 said:

 

Its was 30% complete.

My point exactly 70% incomplete

[MikeandDow]

40 minutes ago, This Guy said:

My point exactly 70% incomplete

The Structure was completed in April 2024

[Ralf001]

12 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

The Structure was completed in April 2024

When it collapsed in March 2025 it looked far from complete.

[MikeandDow]

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

When it collapsed in March 2025 it looked far from complete.

As i said the STRUCTURE was topped out meaning no more concrete pours sturucture finished NOT the building

[Rimmer]

A personal attack troll post has been removed also a reply

[Hawaiian]

48 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

As i said the STRUCTURE was topped out meaning no more concrete pours sturucture finished NOT the building

That means the concrete had more than enough time to cure.  So that rules out that avenue of blame for the failure. 

[MikeandDow]

 

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

That means the concrete had more than enough time to cure.  So that rules out that avenue of blame for the failure. 

correct !!  several clues    design not sutable for quake proof or alluvial soil (  contributing factor)

usuitable reo does not meet spec (  contributing factor)

Cement wrong strength  should be 56mpa  lower strength used cheaper (  contributing factor)

behind schedule bad workmanship (  contributing factor)

coruption (  contributing factor)

result collapsed building

[ExpatOilWorker]

[MikeandDow]

This is interesting

China Railway Number 10, which could not be reached for comment, is also set to be investigated by the Department of Special Investigation to see if it used Thai nominees as proxy shareholders, whats the bet the old devil has a hand in it (Thaskin)

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2992846/substandard-steel-used-in-collapsed-bangkok-tower
 

[Rolo89]

Friends building has 5 out of 6 lifts closed due to damage, but the whole building has been signed off as perfectly safe in rapid time by an unnamed engineer. 

 

Said friend is staying away and wont stay in his flat on the 38th floor!

[MikeandDow]

3 minutes ago, Rolo89 said:

Friends building has 5 out of 6 lifts closed due to damage, but the whole building has been signed off as perfectly safe in rapid time by an unnamed engineer. 

 

Said friend is staying away and wont stay in his flat on the 38th floor!

In Thailand a handyman is called an Engineer  good luck!!

[CK1980]

On 3/29/2025 at 7:53 PM, josephbloggs said:

I am sure there is damage - it was a large earthquake! I don't see widespread damage at all.

Where's your evidence that the MRT and BTS have huge cracks and are possibly to be condemned? Care to share please. Both are running today after extensive checks yesterday.

Link?

Sorry, I worded that slightly badly. Huge cracks and possible condemned buildings, not train infrastructure.

 

There are huge cracks in many condo's, mine for example, which is very near to the MRT which is on concrete stilts, so for very obvious reasons they decided to suspend the trains until they checked it out, which as you say they have now done and are running again.

 

As for the condo's mine like many others are being inspected by external companies next week to see if they are safe to live in.

 

I'm moving out regardless, couldn't stand to live in there again after that experience.

[richard_smith237]

20 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

I am fairly confident in the strength  and integrity of Thailand's newer builds. However, I don't think that's where  the exposure is.

London and Paris have a lower risk of earth movement  than Bangkok so not a good comparison. The real exposure for Bangkok is that it is built on wetlands with alluvial soil, which can amplify incoming ground motion even from events occurring hundreds of kilometers distant. The ground motion experienced at locations on deep alluvial basins can be further amplified above and beyond what would be expected using the near-surface soil stiffness parameter only.  I am more worried about the risk of liquification.  We saw it in Tokyo in the big quake from 2011 when reclaimed areas turned to mush. However, Japan* had  undertaken multiple preventative measures to mitigate the risk of damage.   I am not aware of the same level of concern in Thailand.  Experts have been warning that Bangkok is sinking. Well, if it is sinking, it is unlikely that  any big effort has been made to control the ground water levels  and so the risk of liquiification is hight. It would be  deadly catastrophic if t= a big tremor hit when the city was in the grips of the annual monsoon and the. streets were flooded.

 

* For reference purposes; In Japan, many remediation methods against liquefaction have been developed since the 1964 Niigata earthquake. The methods are classified into two categories: Ground treatments to prevent liquefaction, and measure that strengthen structures to prevent or minimise damage if the ground liquefies. The remediation methods have been applied to many kinds of structures, such as oil tanks, quay walls, bridges and buildings. The effectiveness of ground treatments in preventing liquefaction has been proved during past earthquakes.

 

Interesting response - particularly how monsoon season could increase the impact of liquefaction after influencing the water table in Bangkok.

 

 

I covered various similar examples of other cites with similar Geological settings in this thread: 

 

[Sir Dude]

Already starting to out that shoddy materials and sub-par metal being used in the construction of this government building.

What if it was finished and full of government workers and this happened? Can't trust Chinese companies to be honest and do the job properly within the law... it looks like they were using cheap steel from a Chinese company that the Thais shut down for being dodgy and confiscated the metal... but it still found it's way to this new building. Corruption and contempt here knows no bounds.

Are you sure you are confident in your high-rise appartment block you bought a condo in? I'd rather be in a bungalow.

[MikeandDow]

1 hour ago, Sir Dude said:

Already starting to out that shoddy materials and sub-par metal being used in the construction of this government building.

What if it was finished and full of government workers and this happened? Can't trust Chinese companies to be honest and do the job properly within the law... it looks like they were using cheap steel from a Chinese company that the Thais shut down for being dodgy and confiscated the metal... but it still found it's way to this new building. Corruption and contempt here knows no bounds.

Are you sure you are confident in your high-rise appartment block you bought a condo in? I'd rather be in a bungalow.

Its par for the course  be forgotton in a few weeks back to normal  life is cheap in asia

[lordgrinz]

Investigators have already found "substandard" steel bars on site that failed testing by the Iron and Steel institute of Thailand. Not to mention the steel was supplied by a Chinese steel company already closed for "safety grounds".  This keeps getting better and better, heads need to roll!

[Rolo89]

5 hours ago, CK1980 said:

I'm moving out regardless, couldn't stand to live in there again after that experience.

Many are moving out of their high rises. 

 

Don't think this will be forgotten about and moved on from quickly.

 

Lots have woken up to Bangkok is built on jelly and is very suspectable to earquakes far away. 

[josephbloggs]

5 hours ago, CK1980 said:

Sorry, I worded that slightly badly. Huge cracks and possible condemned buildings, not train infrastructure.

 

There are huge cracks in many condo's, mine for example, which is very near to the MRT which is on concrete stilts, so for very obvious reasons they decided to suspend the trains until they checked it out, which as you say they have now done and are running again.

 

As for the condo's mine like many others are being inspected by external companies next week to see if they are safe to live in.

 

I'm moving out regardless, couldn't stand to live in there again after that experience.

Ok, fair enough. 

it remains to be seen what the final damage will be but there is a lot of panic (understandably). Most of the pictures and videos I have seen of damage is just superficial - tiles shattered, ceiling panels on the floor, plaster cracked etc. For an unprecedented seismic event in a city that has never experienced it before I would say it seems Bangkok did pretty well.

Of course I expect some buildings will have lasting issues but it doesn't seem like many will. Let's see. 

[scubascuba3]

AN is great

[SAFETY FIRST]

41 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

AN is great

I like reading the mystery death articles on AN. 

 

All the Sherlock Holmes and Columbo impersonators.

Very funny, these guys are so serious. 

[wozzlegummich]

 

 

[MikeandDow]

9 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Investigators have already found "substandard" steel bars on site that failed testing by the Iron and Steel institute of Thailand. Not to mention the steel was supplied by a Chinese steel company already closed for "safety grounds".  This keeps getting better and better, heads need to roll!

 Do you really think heads will roll !!  you know we are in Thailand !  there will be a  big hoo haw !!  and thats it back to normal,  no improvement, no getting rid of coruption, no forward thinking Thai can not do that!!