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British Tourists Recount Terror Amidst Thailand Earthquake Aftermath
BANGKOK, Thailand – Holidaymakers from Britain have described scenes of terror and chaos following a powerful earthquake that struck Thailand and Myanmar. Tourists caught in the Thailand earthquake recounted ‘screaming and panic’ as the ground shook, comparing the devastating aftermath to a ‘warzone’. The major earthquake disaster, impacting both Thailand and Myanmar, has triggered a state of emergency and raised fears of a significant death toll.
Major Earthquake Strikes Myanmar and Thailand
A massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake jolted Thailand and Myanmar this morning, prompting widespread panic and emergency responses. The shallow tremor originated in central Myanmar at 13:20 local time (06:50 GMT), followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock minutes later. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in affected regions as they assess the full scale of the damage.
Myanmar Hospital Overwhelmed
In Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, officials at a primary hospital have reported a ‘mass casualty situation’. The death toll in Myanmar is anticipated to climb as reports emerge of collapsed buildings and widespread debris. Rescue efforts are underway to locate and assist those trapped in the rubble.
Bangkok Under State of Emergency
The earthquake’s impact extended into neighbouring Thailand, with tremors felt across large areas, including the capital, Bangkok. A state of emergency has been declared in Bangkok, a metropolis of over 17 million residents, many of whom reside in high-rise apartment buildings. The potential for structural damage in densely populated urban areas is a major concern.
Eyewitness Accounts of Earthquake Terror
Harrowing survivor accounts from Bangkok paint a picture of widespread fear as high-rise structures swayed violently. Residents reportedly screamed in terror and fled for safety as the earthquake struck.
Radio Presenter’s ‘Scariest Experience’
Steve Denyer, a presenter for Virgin Radio, was on the 19th floor of a 60-story building during the quake. Speaking to Times Radio, he described the event as “the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“It felt exactly like being on a cruise ship in a severe storm,” Denyer explained, “You’re swaying, losing balance, and hearing everything creak. The most alarming aspect was hearing objects crashing from floors above.”
Denyer recounted the moments leading up to evacuation: “I was about to have afternoon tea when ‘almighty crashes’ from upper floors made me feel ‘disoriented and dizzy’. It took about 10 to 15 seconds for genuine concern to set in. Staff were visibly panicked, and someone was crying.”
“We were guided into a stairwell, roughly 19 floors up, and began walking down,” he added, “Even in the stairwell, we could still hear crashes, and it was swaying.”
Tourist Describes Street Panic
Paul Vincent, a tourist from England, was at a streetside bar when the earthquake hit. “Suddenly, everyone poured into the street. The scene was chaotic, with a lot of screaming and panicking, which intensified the fear,” he stated.
Vincent described witnessing a high-rise building swaying and water cascading from a rooftop pool as he emerged onto the street. “Seeing that building move, that’s when the reality of the situation truly hit me,” he said.
‘Like a Warzone’ – Mother’s Fear for Expat Son
Jaine Brent, the concerned mother of a young British expatriate in Bangkok, recounted her son’s description of the scenes: “He said it looked ‘like a warzone’, with ‘people wandering around in a daze with suitcases’.”
Brent, a PR consultant, told Express, “My son was in his office when he suddenly felt unsteady and had to sit down. The same thing happened to his colleague, and then people in the office began screaming. Cracks appeared in the building, and it started shaking violently. Everyone evacuated. He mentioned some construction sites had completely collapsed.”
“There was widespread crying and panic in the streets, truly horrific,” Brent added.
Cinema-Goer Mistook Tremors for Film Effects
Another British tourist, Mandy Tang, 38, from London, initially mistook the earthquake tremors for special effects while watching a film in a Bangkok cinema.
“I was watching an action film, and when the shaking began, I initially thought it was part of the movie’s IMAX effects,” Tang explained. “I looked around, and the local audience remained seated. However, my Taiwanese friend insisted it was an earthquake. We exited the theatre and encountered security guards evacuating everyone. We could see doors opening and closing and all the chairs shaking.”
Tang described her efforts to return to her hotel: “I’m just exhausted and trying to get back. It was quite unnerving, I’ve never experienced such a strong tremor. It was genuinely frightening.”
Shopping Mall Evacuations and Park Refuge
Fraser Morton, a Scottish tourist in Bangkok, witnessed “a lot of screaming and panic” while in a shopping mall. He recounted, “Suddenly, the entire building began to move. Initially, I walked calmly, but then the building started swaying significantly… yes, much screaming, mass panic, people running against the escalator direction, and loud crashing noises within the mall.”
Like Morton, thousands sought refuge in Benjasiri Park, an open space considered safe from tall buildings, after evacuating nearby shopping centers, high-rises, and apartments along Bangkok’s busy Sukhumvit Road.
Basement Shoppers and Swaying Skyscrapers
Calvin Vercoe from the Isle of Wight, holidaying in Bangkok, was in the basement of the Terminal 21 shopping centre when the earthquake struck. “I felt suddenly dizzy. Looking up, I noticed shop signs swaying and told my partner it felt like an earthquake,” he recalled.
“As we left the shop, people were running and screaming. We exited through fire escapes with everyone pushing and scrambling,” Vercoe continued, “I even lost my sunglasses in the commotion. The most alarming sight was being outside and seeing massive skyscrapers swaying.”
Hotel Evacuations and Flight Delays
Kelly Rhodes, a tourist from Kingston, London, staying at the Okura Prestige in Bangkok, reported hotel guests being evacuated down 24 flights of stairs. With flight operations disrupted, she stated, “We are trying to arrange flights out, but it’s complete chaos. We are essentially stuck in the city with total traffic gridlock.”
Rhodes added, “We witnessed a building with a rooftop pool losing water in waves – it was shocking. My legs trembled for hours afterward, but compared to Myanmar, we were fortunate!”
Newly Arrived Tourists’ Terrifying Hotel Experience
Simon and Linda Swann from New Brighton, who had arrived in Bangkok just 17 hours before the earthquake, experienced the terrifying ordeal in their hotel. Mr. Swann, 56, described to the Echo, “Tiles started falling off the bathroom walls, and the bed and furniture were moving around the room.”
“My wife and I just grabbed our belongings and ran. It was unbelievably frightening. I was without a top and shoes, fearing the building’s collapse. We ran to the exit and down ten flights of stairs. There were children screaming and debris everywhere,” Swann recounted.
Swann, a firefighter of 30 years, stated that the earthquake was “the scariest moment of my life”.
Seismology Expert Predicts Severe Aftermath
Professor Ian Main, a seismology expert from the University of Edinburgh, warned of potentially catastrophic consequences. “The damage is likely to be extremely severe near the epicentre, given the estimated ground shaking intensity and the area’s population density and building vulnerability,” Professor Main stated.
“The USGS ‘PAGER’ forecast for fatalities is sadly estimated to be in the range of 10,000 to 100,000,” he concluded, citing the American agency’s earthquake impact assessment.