Deadly Building Collapse in Bangkok After Major Earthquake

In a dramatic scene outside the Police General Hospital in Bangkok, doctors successfully delivered a baby on the street during a massive earthquake that struck the region on March 29, 2025. At approximately 12:50 p.m. local time, two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 6.4 in magnitude, originated in Myanmar, triggering tremors felt across parts of Thailand. According to Police Colonel Sirikul Srisanga, the mother was undergoing surgery when the earthquake hit, prompting a swift evacuation of the hospital. Healthcare teams carried the patient out on a stretcher, where she gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the open air, surrounded by medical staff. Videos of the incident were shared widely on social media, highlighting the extraordinary circumstances. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jiramrit noted that the decision to perform the final surgical procedures outside was influenced by an urgent need to protect the patient's health, as there were no specific earthquake response plans in place at the hospital. As for the broader impact, reports indicate that the death toll in Myanmar has exceeded 1,000 due to building collapses, while in Thailand, six fatalities and several injuries have been recorded as the region responds to ongoing aftershocks.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar and affected neighboring Thailand on March 28, 2025, leading to at least two confirmed deaths and an unknown number of people trapped after a high-rise building in Bangkok collapsed. The quake, which occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers with its epicenter near Mandalay, ignited panic in densely populated areas, with residents fleeing their homes and workplaces in terror. According to Thai emergency responders, two bodies have been recovered from the rubble of the under-construction skyscraper, where approximately 43 workers were reported trapped. Seven individuals have been rescued alive (Associated Press). In response to the disaster, Bangkok has been declared a disaster area and a state of emergency has been instituted, empowering local authorities to mobilize resources for rescue operations. The Myanmar junta has also requested international humanitarian aid as six regions of the country declared a state of emergency (Agence France-Presse). Reports indicate structural damage across Bangkok, raising concerns about the safety of other buildings and prompting urgent assessments by local officials.

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok has issued a warning to American citizens following the deportation of 45 Uyghurs from Thailand to China on February 28. This action has raised concerns about potential "violent retaliatory attacks," as similar past deportations have led to serious violence, including a bombing in 2015 that resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, according to Embassy officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the deportation, arguing that it violates international human rights obligations and places the deported individuals at risk of persecution in China. Thai authorities claimed that the Uyghurs voluntarily accepted repatriation under a Chinese agreement assuring their safety. However, Rubio criticized the process, emphasizing the lack of due process for the Uyghurs and urging Thailand to uphold its tradition of protecting vulnerable populations. The Embassy has advised Americans in Thailand to exercise heightened caution in crowded areas due to the risk of potential violence linked to these deportations.