Thailand/Myanmar Earthquake: VIDEO Dramatic collapse of a high rise in Bankok 1

[human909]

I have no engineering commentary at this stage. But this does capture a near complete collapse:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1905511502435791007

https://twitter.com/x/status/1905515797234991340

 

[a_urbs]

See the link below. Granted, this is from one angle, so we don't know what is happening with the core at this time step. Could one under-reinforced/low-strength column be the fuse? Looking at the video, it seems like an immediate blowout, which is wild. What is also interesting to me is that the column below blows out following the first, but then the whole floor rotates inwards, almost like the core folded on itself.

https://www.reddit.com/r/StructuralEngineering/comments/1jmqdfx/closer_view_of_the_collapsed_building_in_myanmar

 

[Sym P. le]

There were adjacent lower structures that may have kneecapped the tower if they were oscillating out of phase.

From an adjacent expressway (Google Maps), we see the north elevation of the tower, parkade and a connecting structure. The top floor/roof of the connecting structure does not appear to be level with any floor of the tower and I'm curious as to its function. I can imagine its use as a battering ram against the western wall of the tower core. If there was a physical linkage between the two structures, it could have torn out of the core wall, crippling it prior to further interaction.

We can also see through the east facing lobby area, the focus of my previous stabilized animated GIF (you have to wait a few seconds for it to load). Recall, the lower core did not budge as the tower came down on top of it.

 

[bones206]

Except the tower crane isn't likely to trigger a collapse from the bottom. If it was a collapse from the top then I'd be looking closely at the crane. The weight and moment of the crane at the base is pretty negligible compared to the weight of the building.

I was envisioning some kind of severe localized effect from the crane interaction, that when combined with the overall building sway, caused a column to fail. Just putting out potential theories for discussion since we are in the speculation phase of what happened here. It easily could have been foundation failure as Sym P. le hypothesized. Especially if there were slender precast piles holding up that core.

 

[bones206]

If there was a physical linkage between the two structures, it could have torn out of the core wall, crippling it prior to further interaction.

I suspect they were not connected because those adjacent structures remained standing post collapse. Not sure if this photo is showing the correct orientation, but I believe what I circled in red corresponds to what you circled in green. There does look to be some damage and rebar hanging (??)

 

[sp33dy1979]

What do you guys think about this: Hopefully the ThaiEnquirer is better that the version from the states.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1906329563678024116

 

[dik]

Substandard?

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-watchdog-had-flagged-concerns-building-that-collapsed-earthquake-2025-03-31/

 

[Sym P. le]

bones206, you're looking at the parkade with a corner of the connecting structure roof, the balance of which is buried under the rubble. It looks as though there was a casual connection and this could be the case at the tower as well.

As far as rebar quality issues, I doubt that was the initiating factor though it likely plays a role in the spectacle of the collapse. Of course any indication of corruption leads to speculation of concrete quality as well. It's quite possible that proper materials would withstand more abuse and leave a damaged but still standing structure.

 

[bones206]

bones206, you're looking at the parkade with a corner of the connecting structure roof, the balance of which is buried under the rubble.

Ah yes, you are correct.

 

[tommj]

May also want to rethink the pool on the roof thing in earthquake prone areas...

8M views · 10K reactions | Thailand an earthquake talking and have collapsed some of the tall buildings in Thailand 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 #Thailand #facebookreelsviral Hashtag Lets Travel Adventures | Hashtag Lets Travel Adventures

Thailand an earthquake talking and have collapsed some of the tall buildings in Thailand 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 #Thailand #facebookreelsviral Hashtag Lets Travel Adventures.

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[JStephen]

This was one that that caught my attention: