Evacuations and Panic Gripped the Thai Capital Following a Powerful 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake
On March 28, 2025, tremors from a powerful earthquake in Myanmar rattled Bangkok, causing widespread panic and evacuations from high-rise buildings. Singaporeans in the Thai capital described their experiences as they sought safety from the shaking structures.
Erica Liu, an IT specialist from Singapore, was working in an office building when the ceiling pane shattered, causing debris to fall. Her immediate instinct was to duck under a table with her colleagues. Amid the chaos, a voice shouted, “It’s an earthquake! Evacuate now!” Liu, along with others, rushed down 16 flights of stairs to safety as the tremors continued to shake the city.
Meanwhile, Irene Yap, a retiree visiting Bangkok with her family, was at the MBK Centre mall when she felt the building sway. She quickly realised they needed to leave, as the tremors worsened. Despite the unsettling experience, she and her family chose to stay in Bangkok for the remainder of their trip, scheduled to leave on March 30.
In Pratunam, another tourist, Vanessa Szeto, was in her hotel lobby with friends when the tremors began. They saw hotel staff rushing out, prompting the guests to follow. Szeto observed electricity cables swaying and water splashing from a high-rise pool, adding to the unsettling scene. Despite the scare, Szeto and her friends decided to stay until their departure on March 29.
At Suvarnabhumi Airport, some travellers experienced delays due to the disruptions caused by the earthquake. Nicholas Chan, a tourist, noticed the delays when waiting for a train to the city. He had to wait 20 minutes before the train service was cancelled, and he opted to wait for the crowds to thin before deciding on his next move.
Kaustubh Patwardhan, a business strategist from Singapore, was on the 16th floor of his office when the tremors hit. He described the panic that followed as walls cracked and debris fell. After safely evacuating, he rushed to the airport to catch an early flight back to Singapore.
The Singapore Embassy in Bangkok issued safety guidelines to citizens, advising them to stay vigilant and monitor local news for further updates. The embassy also urged Singaporeans to be cautious of damaged infrastructure and heed local authorities’ advice.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, the tremors affected many parts of Bangkok, leading to temporary closures of buildings for safety checks and significant disruptions in transport services.
