Rescuers Search for 90 Missing After Bangkok High-Rise Collapse

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Bangkok on Friday, causing the collapse of a high-rise building under construction and resulting in at least three confirmed deaths, while 90 people are reported missing. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated that rescue teams are working urgently to locate the 81 trapped individuals amid the rubble of the 30-storey structure. The building was part of a 2.1-billion-baht project initiated in 2020 and was approximately 30% complete at the time of the disaster. In addition to the construction site, the earthquake caused panic and evacuations across the city, including at a National Book Fair and several schools. The tremors were also felt in neighboring Myanmar, prompting a state of emergency in several regions due to significant damage reported there. Rescue operations continue as families await news of their loved ones and the situation remains precarious due to potential aftershocks.