Bangkok felt prefer it erupted into chaos when the tremors hit.
Nobody knew what was occurring and there was no warning.
In a metropolis the place lives are lived, there have been out of the blue incongruous sights within the sky – swimming pools overflowing, high-rise walkways connecting costly flats damaged aside, and huddles of confused and scared folks outdoors places of work.
The busy skytrain that tens of millions depend on in Thailand‘s capital was shut down, bringing the town to a grinding halt and folks struggling to maneuver round.
Learn extra: Dozens die in Myanmar quake – as 100 lacking in Bangkok
Mayhem in Thailand as Myanmar quake shocks
My producer Rachael and I needed to share a bike to try to get to the scene of the worst constructing collapse – a gradual route via gridlocked visitors.
On arrival, the devastation was clear. A mass of rubble, a sea of rescue staff, and panicked onlookers.
We have been informed that 90 development staff have been nonetheless trapped inside.
One of many males attempting to rescue them informed me he had heard some voices and was hopeful they might be capable of pull folks out alive.
However he acknowledged it was “very tough” work and, as he spoke, we have been engulfed with mud, the sunshine already fading as specialist bulldozers have been introduced in.
Lots of these inside, we have been informed, have been Cambodians about to complete constructing the construction.
Second constructing collapses in earthquake
Why no warnings?
Because the rescue effort continued, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra out of the blue arrived.
I requested her why there have been no warnings – in a nation that 20 years in the past suffered a devastating earthquake.
She didn’t reply.
However many will little question proceed to press her authorities on why there was no emergency alert system, no texts, nothing. Not for hours after, not less than.
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Rescuers on the web site of a Bangkok skyscraper beneath development that collapsed after an earthquake. Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
On the bottom, Bangkok felt like a metropolis caught off guard.
There at the moment are fears of aftershocks – as the federal government strikes shortly to try to reassure its folks there will probably be warnings subsequent time.
However in a spot the place the skyline is dominated by high-rise flats, buildings and places of work, there’s a feeling of vulnerability now.
And there are questions in regards to the integrity of their constructions and what might be carried out to guard a inhabitants of greater than 17 million folks.
