Thailand earthquake: Signs of life detected under collapsed tower block three days on from tragedy
Signs of life have been detected beneath the rubble of a quake-hit Bangkok tower block – more than 72 hours after it collapsed and trapped 80 workers inside. The city’s Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, today revealed infrared sensors had identified vital signs of at least three people in two spots of the disaster site.
He vowed to continue the rescue mission for any survivors after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed at least 1,700 people in neighbouring Myanmar. It was felt in Thailand and reduced the under-construction State Audit Office, in northern Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, to a seven-storey pile of steel wire and concrete.
Today, the race to free those buried beneath the rubble continued in Bangkok continues. The site was a hive of activity, with workers using a crane and basket to reach the top of the crumbling concrete.
From a bridge overlooking the vast scene of devastation, the Mirror watched as heavy machinery continued to move the twisted wreck of steel in a bid to save those inside. Mr Sittipunt said: “Even if one life is saved, it is worth all the effort.
“Right now, we’re reaching 72 hours of searching and the operation will continue no matter what the hopes are of finding survivors.” Heavy machinery, sniffer dogs, “robotic mules”, drones and high-tech scanning equipment are all frantically racing to trace any survivors in the disaster.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra today visited the site to meet rescue workers, as she announced a probe into the disaster. And a rescue team from Turkey who helped in the 2023 earthquake which killed 55,000 people have also been drafted in to help with the search.
A unit from Israel also arrived at the disaster site today. It came as the death toll in Myanmar continued to climb, with more bodies pulled from the rubble, according to the country’s military-led government. Government spokesman Maj.
General Zaw Min Tun said another 3,400 have been injured and more than 300 were missing.
The massive earthquake hit at midday on Friday, causing widespread damage, including in the capital Naypyidaw and the second largest city, Mandalay. The true number of people killed and injured across the regions hit is thought to be far higher than Government claims.
“We’re really not clear on the scale of the destruction at this stage,” said Lauren Ellery, deputy director of programs in Myanmar for the International Rescue Committee.
More than 700 Muslim worshipers were killed as the quake destroyed 60 mosques during prayer time in the holy month of Ramadan.
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