BANGKOK: A construction worker recounted on Saturday (Mar 29) how he cheated death when a Bangkok skyscraper collapsed “in the blink of an eye” after a massive earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand the day before.
Tearful family members gathered at the remains of the 30-storey building, which crumbled to rubble in just seconds on Friday, clinging to shreds of hope that their loved ones who were working when it fell might be found alive.
The tower was being built to house government offices when the quake struck, and construction worker Khin Aung told AFP how the building collapsed just after his brother had entered to start his shift.
“When my shift ended around 1pm I went outside to get water and I saw my younger brother before I went out,” he told AFP.
Tremors from the 7.7-magnitude quake centred in neighbouring Myanmar – where the ruling junta said at least 694 people had died – hit Bangkok around 1.20 pm, shaking the building.
“When I went outside, I saw dust everywhere and I just ran to escape from the collapsing building,” Khin Aung said.
“I video-called my brother and friends but only one picked up the phone. But I can’t see his face and I heard he was running.
“At that point the whole building was shaking but while I was on a call with him, I lost the call and the building collapsed.”
Authorities say up to 100 workers may be trapped in the mass of rubble and twisted metal that is all that remains of the tower. At least five are confirmed dead but the toll is almost certain to rise.
“I can’t describe how I feel – it happened in the blink of an eye,” said Khin Aung.
“All my friends and my brother were in the building when it collapsed. I don’t have any words to say.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-thailand-earthquake-survivor-bangkok-building-collapse-5032071
