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Bangkok Disaster: Foreign Construction in Question as China Railway Number 10 Faces Bangkok Collapse Probe

 

A massive earthquake of 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025, wreaking havoc and murdering about 1700 people. The earthquake had its impact far and wide, even causing the collapse of a 33-story under-construction high-rise building in Bangkok, Thailand, resulting in at least 18 casualties and dozens missing.

This disaster unleashed a thorough investigation into building construction standards and foreign involvement in infrastructure projects in Thailand.

 

Skyscraper Collapse Raises Safety Concerns: China Railway Number 10

 

The skyscraper in Bangkok, near Chatuchak market, was a joint-venture project between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd. All buildings suffered such damage during the earthquake, raising concern as to structural defects in the building. However, judging by the region's impact with the seismic waves being felt, there was no evidence of other similar structures suffering similar damage within the city.

At least 78 people remain unaccounted for as search and rescue teams continue to look for survivors from the collapsed building. Authorities are now using thermal-imaging technology to locate possible trapped individuals, while emergency crews painstakingly sift through portions of the collapsed building consisting of crushed concrete and twisted metal.

 

Thailand Launches Investigation

 

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered an immediate investigation, tasking officials with identifying poor engineering, substandard materials, or failure to comply with regulations as possible reasons for the collapse. Investigators would also look at China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd., which was a 49% stakeholder, the maximum allowed for foreign businesses under Thai law.

Four Chinese nationals were detained for trying to sneak out sensitive documents from the disaster area. The area has now been notified as a disaster zone by the Thai government and is only to be accessed by duly authorized personnel.

 

Foreign Construction Firm Under Scrutiny

 

China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd. was founded in 2018 and has been engaged in different construction infrastructure projects nationwide. Late reports had indicated that the company incurred a net loss of up to 199.66 million baht in 2023, raising speculations on its viability and construction practices.

Experts further blame the building collapse to application of a so-called flat slab construction, wherein floors are directly placed atop columns without the intervention of beams. Its cost-efficiency makes this type of construction technique very susceptible to seismic disturbances. Investigators are further considering that the soft soil condition of Bangkok, generally known for amplification of earthquake vibrations, may also have played a part.

 

Myanmar's Earthquake and Regional Impact

 

It has become one of the most disastrous natural calamities in Myanmar, with more than 3500 wounded and 300 more reported missing. Although located far from the geographical epicenter, Thailand felt tremors due to the shallow nature of the earthquake, which magnifies surface shaking effects.

 

Public and Political Reactions

 

The incident of the collapse in Bangkok has raised public anger at the safety standards being maintained in Thai construction projects, especially when the contractors are foreign companies. The demand for tightening rules and ensuring proper monitoring of the large-scale infrastructure development projects being carried on in Thailand has grown. The findings of the Thai government could lead to stricter laws regulating foreign investment in construction.

 

Search Efforts Continue

 

Rescuers are racing against time to search for survivors. It has been reported that at least 15 people may have been detected under the rubble by thermal imaging technology. Families of the missing maintain their hopes, but concerns are beginning to arise about the survival rate due to the increase in time passed since the collapse.

 

Final Words

 

The inquiry into the collapse of the Bangkok skyscraper is likely not only to bring new understanding and change into the future operations and policies relating to infrastructure development in Thailand but also to avoid similar disasters by tightening the laws and regulations regarding safety and foreign participation in construction projects. In the meantime, as rescue efforts move into the second day, this calamity highlights the urgent need to improve building standards in earthquake-prone areas.