Bangkok's High-Rise Tragedy: 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Thailand

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Thailand and neighboring Myanmar, leading to the collapse of a high-rise building in Bangkok. The quake caused widespread panic as residents evacuated buildings, including malls and apartments. The epicenter was in Myanmar, causing additional damage in Mandalay, including a 90-year-old bridge collapse.

In a shocking turn of events, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated parts of Thailand and Myanmar on Friday. A high-rise building under construction in Bangkok crumbled due to the quake, sparking fears of potential casualties. The incident has generated significant concern due to a lack of immediate information about the number of workers present at the site.

Viral videos captured the alarming moment the building, topped with a crane, collapsed into a cloud of dust. Onlookers fled in panic as the scene unfolded near Bangkok's Chatuchak Market. "I got outside and looked up at the building; the whole thing was moving," Fraser Morton, a Scottish tourist, recounted as he described the chaos.

The earthquake's impact was felt strongly across the region. Mandalay, close to the epicenter, saw part of its royal palace damaged and infrastructural challenges, including road and bridge collapses. While alarms rang out in Bangkok, causing evacuations from high-rise buildings, residents were left shaken by the intense tremors.

(With inputs from agencies.)