Tall & Urban News

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar near Mandalay at midday on Friday, 28 March, causing widespread destruction and aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4 magnitude. The quake, at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), was felt across the region, including Thailand, where a high-rise under construction, which CTBUH has confirmed is the State Audit Office Building, collapsed in Bangkok.

Reports of the high-rise building near Chatuchak Market share that it crumpled into a cloud of dust. Videos showed onlookers running away from the building, and vehicles halted on a nearby freeway. Rescuers are working through the wreckage, searching for survivors among shattered steel and concrete. Currently the city’s transit systems are shut down, and the roads are full of traffic. 

Other high-rises in the area were seen to have swayed, and rooftop pools lost their water, having it spill down the sides of the building and onto the streets below. On Friday, people waited outside after the quake for buildings to undergo safety checks. There have so far been 18 confirmed deaths, and several injured and missing people reported. In Myanmar, state media has reported the death toll has surpassed 2000 people, with many more injured.  Searches for missing people are still ongoing.  

While earthquakes in the region are common, Bangkok rarely experiences tremors this strong. Witnesses described lights swinging, buildings creaking, and people fleeing in fear. The questions surrounding why the under construction high-rise collapsed is expected to be investigated further in a city that has multiple tall buildings scattered throughout the urban area. The Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday, 31 March to reporters that he has ordered an investigation committee to be set up and to report the results back to him within seven days.

Learn more at AP News.

Last updated 1 April, 2025.

CTBUH will continue to update this story as more details emerge.  We send our thoughts and support to CTBUH members who are in the region and may be affected by this.