Six Condominiums Declared Unsafe in Bangkok Following Myanmar Earthquake

BANGKOK, March 29, 2025 – Six condominium buildings in Bangkok have been declared structurally unsafe after a powerful earthquake in Myanmar sent tremors across Thailand’s capital on Friday, triggering widespread panic, property damage, and traffic chaos.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor Chadchart Sittipunt confirmed that nearly 1,000 damage reports were filed by property management teams in the aftermath of the quake. Structural assessments are currently underway, led by expert engineers.

Speaking at a press conference after meeting with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Chadchart said the earthquake caused significant damage to high-rise buildings across the city.
“So far, six buildings have been identified as severely affected and deemed uninhabitable. Our engineers are conducting detailed on-site evaluations throughout the night,” he said.

The BMA has deployed five to six structural engineers at its operations control center and mobilized certified engineers from both public and private sectors to assist in assessing building integrity across Bangkok.

“The Prime Minister has also instructed other government agencies with engineering capacity to join this effort to expedite recovery operations,” Chadchart added.
In the immediate aftermath, the city experienced severe traffic paralysis. A Bernama survey observed mass disruptions to transportation, as the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) and Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) suspended services temporarily. Thousands of people fled workplaces and schools, but many were left stranded due to traffic congestion, while some resorted to walking home.

To accommodate those unable to return home, several public parks—Lumpini, Benjasiri, Benjakitti, and Chatuchak—were ordered to remain open overnight. Mobile toilets and drinking water supplies were also dispatched to these locations to support displaced residents.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Emergency Medical Center (also known as the Erawan Center) reported six fatalities linked to the earthquake. As of 9:30 p.m. local time Friday, five people were confirmed dead following the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Chatuchak, while another person died after a crane toppled at the Bang Pho intersection.

Despite the chaos, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) announced that all inbound and outbound flights to Bangkok continue to operate as normal.

Investigations into structural safety and recovery efforts are ongoing.

– BERNAMA