In brief
Hope for survivors diminishes as rescuers search through the rubble of a high-rise construction site.
March 29, 2025, 6:06 a.m. ET – In Bangkok, a desperate race is on to find survivors trapped under the wreckage of a high-rise building that collapsed following a powerful earthquake that shook Myanmar. The tragic incident has left debris piling nearly seven stories high, with confirmed reports of eight fatalities and dozens more unaccounted for.Rescue operations commenced with urgency on Saturday as teams scoured the chaotic site where the unfinished 33-story structure fell near the popular Chatuchak Park. Amid temperatures soaring to 96 degrees Fahrenheit, workers utilized excavators and dump trucks to navigate the hazardous wreckage, while misting water provided some respite from the conditions. Families anxiously gathered nearby, clinging to the hope that their loved ones might be discovered alive.In a glimmer of optimism earlier in the day, officials reported detecting life signs from 15 potential survivors trapped beneath the rubble, with some buried under as much as 10 feet of debris. However, by the afternoon, scant updates emerged, prolonging the anguish for those waiting and hoping for news from the disaster site.Than Htike, a father of two and construction worker from Myanmar, expressed his despair as his wife, who was working on higher floors, remained unaccounted for. "I only want my wife back," he said, reflecting the pervasive longing among his fellow workers. Many, like Than, left Myanmar in search of better financial opportunities and have been toiling in Bangkok for several years.Natthanan Kaewkaiyasit shared a similar plight, waiting anxiously for news of her partner, who is still missing. “We have to hope for miracles," she stated, embodying the resilience of those awaiting a sign of life.Eyewitnesses like Aubonrat Setnawet recounted the horrifying moments of the earthquake, where they felt the building sway before it came crashing down. She, too, remains hopeful for her missing husband, emphasizing the critical need for continued rescue efforts.As the hours pass, families and rescue teams continue to confront uncertainty, embodying courage in a time of heartache as the search for survivors goes on.
