U.S. Aid Freeze Blamed for First Confirmed Death of Refugee in Thailand

A 33-storey building in Bangkok collapsed following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar, causing significant tremors across the region on Friday. As of Sunday, 17 fatalities have been confirmed, with another 32 individuals injured and 83 still unaccounted for. Bangkok police indicated that the likelihood of finding survivors is less than one percent, with authorities stating that “most of the victims are probably dead” (NDTV). The building was still under construction and had been initiated as a joint venture involving Thailand's State Audit Office and China Railway Number 10 Ltd., which holds a 49 percent stake. Investigations into the structural integrity of the building are ongoing, as experts cite concerns that only 10 percent of Bangkok buildings are earthquake-resistant (The Telegraph). In Myanmar, the earthquake has led to over 1,600 deaths and thousands of injuries. The country's junta leader has made a rare request for international aid, marking a significant policy shift amid a declared state of emergency across six regions, where hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties.

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.