Rooftop swimming pools violently sloshed and overflowed, with footage capturing water cascading from buildings.
Screengrab
The devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday has had a significant impact on Bangkok, Thailand, despite being 1,000 kilometers from the epicenter.
Search and rescue operations are underway at a collapsed 30-story under-construction building near JJ Mall Chatuchak, where at least 17 fatalities have been reported and over 100 people are feared trapped, according to CNN.
The building, intended for the State Audit Office, collapsed due to the tremors, as reported by Thailand's National Institute for Emergency Medicine.
Thai authorities have deployed 55 military personnel, six rescue dogs, and heavy equipment to aid in the search for survivors. Signs of life have been detected, intensifying rescue efforts. Locals are also providing aid. Over 2,000 reports of structural damage have led to inspections of 700 buildings across Bangkok.
**Rooftop pools spill as buildings sway**
Adding to the chaos, dramatic videos have emerged showing the earthquake's impact on Bangkok's high-rise buildings.
Rooftop swimming pools violently sloshed and overflowed, with footage capturing water cascading from buildings.
One video, reportedly from a Bangkok high-rise, captured the water sloshing back and forth before spilling over the edge as the building swayed.
In a separate video, water from a rooftop pool poured onto the streets below as the earthquake hit.
Instagram user Travis Leon Price shared his terrifying experience of evacuating a 40th-floor skyscraper, describing the violent swaying and water splashing over the balcony edge.
"My room was swaying violently," he said. "Looking out, I saw water splashing over the balcony edge." Realizing the danger, Price used the emergency stairs to descend safely in 20 minutes.
**Myanmar faces devastation**
The earthquake, which struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, has resulted in a catastrophic toll. Myanmar's military leaders report over 1,600 deaths, with rescue efforts hampered by damaged infrastructure and the regime's information control, according to the New York Times.
The US Geological Survey estimates the death toll could exceed 10,000.
The disaster raises concerns about the stability of Myanmar's military regime, already facing a civil war since the 2021 coup. Prior to the earthquake, nearly 20 million people were facing severe food and shelter shortages due to the ongoing conflict
Sign up for the Daily Briefing
Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox