Myanmar & Thailand Earthquakes: China Connection Suspected as Bangkok’s 33-Storey Building Collapses

Myanmar & Thailand Earthquakes: A Chinese-sponsored construction company is being scrutinized for the 33-story high-rise collapsing due to the earthquakes of 7.7 magnitude that rocked central Myanmar last Friday. The unfinished structure lost its shape in a matter of seconds, enveloping the entire area with dust and debris that buried dozens underneath.

News reports from AFP confirmed that 17 dead were recorded by Sunday, with 32 persons injured and 83 are still missing-majority of them construction workers on the site of the collapsed building. Search and rescue operations are now ongoing with intensified efforts in the extreme heat for the recovery of any possible survivors. Thermal imaging drones have detected up to 15 persons who could still be alive. To date, around 8 dead bodies have been retrieved. Read here for Myanmar-Bangkok Earthquake Live Updates.

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Even Though Bangkok is chock-full with high-rises, none of the high-rises are under construction having suffered such catastrophic damage. It has now been pointed out by experts and officials that even the structural safety of this building was compromised. This was one of the buildings owned by the State Audit Office of Thailand (SAO); it was under construction for three years and had reported a budget of over two billion baht (over $45 million).

The urgent investigation was ordered by Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand, giving the expert team no more than seven days to ascertain the cause of the collapse.

According to a report in the UK's Telegraph, the SAO building was a joint venture between the Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) and the China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd. The latter is a subsidiary of China Railway Number 10 Engineering Group Company, which holds a 49% stake - the maximum foreign ownership allowed under Thai law.

Established in 2018, China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) has served as a contractor for major infrastructure projects such as office buildings, railways, and public roads, according to the report. The company declared a net loss for 2023 amounting to 199.66 million baht, with revenue of 206.25 million baht and expenses of 354.95 million baht.

Thai shareholders: Sophon Meechai (40.80%), who is also a director in five other companies; Prachuab Sirikhet (10.20%), who holds shares in six companies; Manas Sri-anant (less than 1%), who serves as a director in ten other companies.

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Beyond Bangkok, a human calamity now unfolded in Myanmar, with over 1,600 dead and thousands more wounded, as a result of destruction visited by an earthquake. The northwest of Sagaing filed the tremors, which rocked Mandalay, one of the largest cities in Myanmar, to bring buildings and infrastructures tumbling down in its wake.

For once, the junta chief Min Aung Hlaing went asking for aid abroad-something the junta has systematically refused-and declared a state of emergency in six regions, rendering hospitals overwhelmed with casualties.

Because of the earthquake, Thailand suddenly evacuated hospitals and office towers. Some buildings may remain standing, but footage shows rooftop pools pouring water down high-rises as the tremors shook the city.

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