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Bangkok felt like a city caught off guard when chaos erupted with earthquake
Bangkok felt like it erupted into chaos when the tremors hit.
No one knew what was happening and there was no warning.
In a city where lives are lived, there were suddenly incongruous sights in the sky – pools overflowing, high-rise walkways connecting expensive apartments broken apart, and huddles of confused and scared people outside offices.
The busy skytrain that millions rely on in Thailand‘s capital was shut down, bringing the city to a grinding halt and people struggling to move around.
Read more: Dozens die in Myanmar quake – as 100 missing in Bangkok
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Mayhem in Thailand as Myanmar quake shocks
My producer Rachael and I had to share a motorbike to try and get to the scene of the worst building collapse – a slow route through gridlocked traffic.
On arrival, the devastation was clear. A mass of rubble, a sea of rescue workers, and panicked onlookers.
We were told that 90 construction workers were still trapped inside.
One of the men trying to rescue them told me he had heard some voices and was hopeful they would be able to pull people out alive.
But he acknowledged it was “very difficult” work and, as he spoke, we were engulfed with dust, the light already fading as specialist bulldozers were brought in.
Many of those inside, we were told, were Cambodians about to finish building the structure.
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Moment building collapses in earthquake
Why no warnings?
As the rescue effort continued, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra suddenly arrived.
I asked her why there were no warnings – in a nation that 20 years ago suffered a devastating earthquake.
She did not respond.
But many will no doubt continue to press her government on why there was no emergency alert system, no texts, nothing. Not for hours after, at least.
Read more from Sky News:
Latest updates on earthquake
Eyewitnesses describe quake hitting Myanmar and Bangkok
Rescuers at the site of a Bangkok skyscraper under construction that collapsed after an earthquake. Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
On the ground, Bangkok felt like a city caught off guard.
There are now fears of aftershocks – as the government moves quickly to try and reassure its people there will be warnings next time.
But in a place where the skyline is dominated by high-rise apartments, buildings and offices, there is a feeling of vulnerability now.
And there are questions about the integrity of their structures and what can be done to protect a population of more than 17 million people.