Man escapes from 40th floor during Bangkok earthquake
A catastrophic earthquake struck Myanmar, leaving devastation in its wake. Hundreds were reported dead or injured, and multiple buildings were reduced to rubble. The tremors extended to neighboring Thailand, where an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok collapsed, trapping workers inside.
Scottish content creator Travis Leon Price, like many others, shared a video capturing the terrifying ordeal as he made his escape from the 40th floor of a high-rise building.
“It was genuinely so scary”
The video begins with Price standing on the streets, exclaiming, “Bangkok was just hit by a big earthquake. Oh my God!” Behind him, panicked residents can be seen running and screaming as they scramble for safety.
“It was genuinely so scary,” he says, turning the camera to show the towering building he had just escaped from. “I was all the way on the 40th floor, and the room was swaying from side to side,” he adds.
The footage captures the moment he realizes an earthquake is in progress. Initially, he mistakes the sensation for vertigo before recognizing the tremors. The video also shows water cascading from neighboring building pools, resembling waterfalls. Eventually, he films himself bolting down the emergency stairs—a descent that he said took him 20 minutes.
Watch the video here
Social media reacts to Travis’s escape
People flooded Travis’s post with comments, sharing their own frightening experiences during the earthquake.
“I’m currently in Chiang Mai, sunbathing on our rooftop pool. Never in my life have I been so scared! 6ft pool waves were no fun!” one user commented.
Another added, “I was TERRIFIED. It’s the strongest earthquake I’ve felt.”
A third shared, “I was in my school. I’m still shaking from what happened. We were in class when our teacher suddenly stood up and shouted for us to run. We all ran down the swaying stairs. I’m still dizzy. Does anyone know how to counter dizziness? I genuinely feel like throwing up.”
Tremors felt across multiple regions
The effects of the Myanmar earthquake were also felt in Vietnam, China’s southwest Yunnan province, as well as in India’s Kolkata and Imphal. Authorities are continuing to assess the full scale of the damage and casualties.
Prof Amorn Pimarnmas, who serves as president of the Structural Engineers Association of Thailand, indicated that although earthquake-proofing regulations exist in 43 provinces, it’s estimated that fewer than 10% of buildings in the country are actually constructed to withstand earthquakes.
