This article is within the scope of WikiProject Architecture, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Architecture on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.ArchitectureWikipedia:WikiProject ArchitectureTemplate:WikiProject ArchitectureArchitecture
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Disaster management, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Disaster management on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Disaster managementWikipedia:WikiProject Disaster managementTemplate:WikiProject Disaster managementDisaster management
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Earthquakes, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of earthquakes, seismology, plate tectonics, and related subjects on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.EarthquakesWikipedia:WikiProject EarthquakesTemplate:WikiProject EarthquakesWikiProject Earthquakes
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Skyscrapers, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of articles that relate to skyscrapers on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.SkyscrapersWikipedia:WikiProject SkyscrapersTemplate:WikiProject SkyscrapersSkyscraper
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Thailand, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Thailand-related articles on Wikipedia. The WikiProject is also a part of the Counteracting systematic bias group aiming to provide a wider and more detailed coverage on countries and areas of the encyclopedia which are notably less developed than the rest. If you would like to help improve this and other Thailand-related articles, please join the project. All interested editors are welcome.ThailandWikipedia:WikiProject ThailandTemplate:WikiProject ThailandThailand
So, why the quake intensity was that high, so far away from from the
epicenter - and far from the surrounding area of dangerous intensity ? Itu (talk) 10:26, 29 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]
My understanding, it's because Bangkok is built on a muddy river delta. This amplifies the effect of the quake, like imagine shaking a container full of jelly vs solid rock. Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) is much nearer the epicentre but was less seriously affected, due to it having a rocky foundation.
I mean it was certainly a big one here and buildings including hospitals were evacuated but there was only moderate damage and no reported casualties. The government has declared an emergency in Bangkok and a few surrounding areas but not in the North.
The primary issue here is likely to be shoddy building standards. Bangkok rarely has earthquakes and historically there wasn't a strict code for that (there are earthquake standards now) but this specific building was particularly bad. This is the only major building in Bangkok that collapsed and plenty of other under construction didn't. There are abandoned skyscrapers in Bangkok like the Sathorn Unique Tower that has been rotting since 1997 and it stayed up. Blorg (talk) 13:07, 29 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Itu, under-construction buildings tend to be less stable than complete ones; I'm not sure how "complete" the building was prior to collapsing. I also don't mean to invoke a stereotype about Asian building standards, but sometimes buildings just aren't made well enough for earthquakes, even smaller ones. — EF513:45, 29 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Even if was not completed, the first thing they put are the foundations. Si only having the base and steel frame should resist. I would expect then all the glass and things not attached to the steel frames to collapse, not the foundations. That means even when completed it would all fall apart. 58.5.100.126 (talk) 07:11, 2 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
- Rupture towards Bangkok: the Earthquakes Epicenter may have been in Mandalay, but the Quake reached into Bago Division with peak Intensity. So in reality the Earthquakes Source was much closer to Bangkok than it seems when only looking at the Epicenter
- Supershear Event: They are known for higher Intensities also in the Distance. You could compare it with a Sonic Boom which was directed Southward because of the Rupture direction
- Bad Soil Quality: As mentioned by others, Bangkok sits on loose soil which Amplyfies Intensity
- Resonance: The Earthquake did send out seismic waves with a frequency which matched the resonance frequency of tall concrete structures. Meaning the Towers started to sway even though the earthquake was relatively weak (Bangkok only received III-V shaking).
- Unfinished: The Building has been unfinished. This made it more vulnerable to shaking
