Inside the rescue efforts in Bangkok’s building collapse

As the dust settles over the ruins of a 30-story building in Bangkok—reduced to a roughly seven-story pile of debris following a rare and powerful earthquake—rescue teams from around the world continue to work tirelessly in hopes of finding survivors.

The unfinished high-rise, intended for Thailand’s State Audit Office, collapsed on March 28 after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar. Though the epicentre was more than 900 kilometres away near Mandalay—Myanmar’s second-largest city—the tremors were strong enough to bring down the structure in the Thai capital. As of April 15, 103 people have been affected, with 41 confirmed dead, nine injured and 53 still missing.

In response, international assistance poured in, with hundreds of rescuers from the military, police and volunteer groups around the world joining the search efforts. Among those volunteering the rescue effort was 23-year-old Tharit Monsereenusorn, who is a firefighter from the United States. Tharit was working with the Royal Thai Armed Forces as an interpreter for the U.S. Air Force Pararescue unit. His job involved ensuring clear communication between U.S. personnel and Thai authorities, aligning operations with protocols set by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

He lived just 20 minutes from the collapse site, “I never expected an earthquake to happen here,” Tharit recalled. “Everything started shaking and I was just confused. Once I realized what was happening, I ran to get my mother so we could take cover.”

He shared with Newsweek what it was like when he arrived at the site.

“Initial reports stated that about 120 people had been inside the building and were unaccounted for,” Tharit said. “I had seen videos beforehand but seeing it in person—this massive structure flattened into a seven-storey pile of rubble—was shocking. It was once a grand building.”

“I was deployed as an interpreter,” Tharit told Newsweek. “My firefighting background in the U.S. helped me understand rescue terminology that typical military translators might not be familiar with. That made a big difference in coordination.”

However, despite his past experiences responding to structure fires and traffic accidents in the U.S., Tharit said this disaster was unlike anything he had seen. “This was a mass casualty event. Nothing I’d seen before could have prepared me for this.”

The building collapse has resulted in a raging controversy, as Thailand had never experienced failure of a structure of this magnitude. Previously, only two six-story buildings have collapsed, one in 2014 and one in 1993. Thailand’s government has ordered an investigation on the design and structural integrity of the building being constructed by the China Railway Number 10 Engineering Group, a Chinese government entity. The project, commissioned by the State Audit Office, is jointly owned by that company and Italian-Thai Development Plc.

Experts have described the collapse as a “pancake collapse,” where floors fall directly onto each other, making it extremely difficult and dangerous for rescuers to navigate.

“There’s a real international effort underway,” Pete, 31, a liaison officer from the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters, who supported coordination with teams like the Israeli rescue unit, said. “Each team brings different expertise, and now they’re finally working in sync.”

However, the early rescue effort was chaotic. “At first, there were too many agencies working separately—media, civilians, government workers and rescue teams. It was hard to coordinate but after a couple days, a more unified system was finally in place.”

Pete described the confusion when the quake hit. “I was at home on my day off. At first, I thought I was getting sick—some people thought it was motion sickness. No one expected it to be an earthquake.”

Later, at the collapse site, the immediate challenge was the sheer size and compactness of the debris. Most of the rubble was tightly stacked, requiring both heavy machinery and manual tools to remove.

Pete described the rubble as weighing approximately 70 tons. While heavy machinery is crucial to the effort, he explained, its use came with serious risks. “Using it could endanger any survivors still trapped underneath,” he said.

A major concern was also the risk of a secondary collapse, especially in areas like the parking garage behind Zone Bravo, which had sustained significant structural damage.

Tharit shared that the early drone footage, thermal imaging and building schematics helped responders locate potential survivor zones—particularly around elevator shafts and stairwells, where structural reinforcement may have offered some protection.

Working under such harrowing conditions takes a psychological toll. But Tharit emphasized the need for mental focus. “You can’t think too much about the emotional side while you’re on-site. If you start thinking about the families or people still trapped, it could compromise your focus. And in this kind of situation, focus is everything.”

He recalled one moment that deeply impacted him: the recovery of a body trapped in Zone Charlie-Delta. Though the body had been visible for some time, debris had made it impossible to reach. When crews were finally able to recover it, “was a quiet but powerful reminder of why they were there.”

While rescue teams work around the clock, progress remains slow. “They’ve found signs of life, but getting to them is nearly impossible,” Pete said.

However, “the removal of that body showed me that, despite how difficult the work was, we were making progress,” Tharit said. “Even though the person didn’t survive, it meant something—closure for a family. We were finally making a dent.”

BMA stated that the city has deployed psychologists to support the families of the victims. Families of victims remain at the site, clinging to hope. “They’re receiving psychological support from the health department,” Tharit said. “But it’s hard—there’s a delicate balance between keeping hope alive and managing expectations.”

Despite the overwhelming tragedy, Tharit said the experience has renewed his faith in humanity. “Everyone—from trained military teams to locals offering food and water—has given something. Their time, their skills, their compassion. It’s the kind of collective response that gives you hope.”

“I just hope people understand how much has been sacrificed during this rescue. Not just by those in uniform, but by everyday people who showed up in whatever way they could.”

Tharit also acknowledged the work of those behind the scenes. “From volunteer cooks preparing meals to soldiers securing the perimeter, to government leaders making decisions—everyone has played a crucial role.”

When asked how long the operation might last, Tharit said, “I can’t say for sure. With this scale of destruction, I suspect it could continue for at least a month. But I only see a small part of the big picture.”

For now, rescue operations remain underway, with approximately 50 percent of the debris now cleared as crews push forward in their search for the missing.