On March 30, DotDotNews' journalists arrived in Bangkok to begin post-quake reporting. After a long day of travel and on-the-ground interviews, they checked into a high-rise hotel in the city's bustling downtown. What greeted them, however, was not the comfort of rest — but the visible aftermath of a seismic shock.
The walls of their hotel corridor were visibly fractured. Inside their room, cracks stretched across ceilings and walls, some wide enough to insert a finger. Chunks of plaster had already fallen, revealing the raw cement beneath. Upon further inspection, they discovered that every floor of the 29-story building showed similar structural damage.
Hotel staff explained these cracks emerged following the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, which also sent tremors through Thailand. A 5.1 aftershock rocked Yangon the following day. Although Bangkok was not at the quake's epicenter, several buildings in the city reportedly suffered damage.
Hotel staff claimed that engineers had checked the structure and deemed certain rooms — including the one assigned to the journalists — safe for occupation. Rooms with more severe damage were sealed off. "Cracks like these are everywhere in Bangkok. It's normal," the front desk explained.
But the reporters disagreed. After contacting their editorial team and assessing the risk, they decided to check out and relocate to another hotel deemed structurally sound.
This field report echoes a broader concern in post-disaster zones: when does "normal" become dangerous? With aftershocks continuing and infrastructure in Myanmar severely affected, Bangkok has become a temporary hub for aid workers and journalists. However, the city is still reeling — quietly, visibly, and uneasily.
With Thailand's popular Songkran Festival approaching in April and thousands of tourists expected to arrive, questions remain about the readiness of the hospitality sector. Several Hong Kong travel agencies have canceled April tours to Thailand, citing safety concerns.
The journalists' experience underscores the hidden vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure following natural disasters — and the psychological toll cracks can leave behind, even when buildings remain standing.
In post-quake Bangkok, the ground may have stopped shaking — but the uncertainty has just begun.
(Reported by Alan Mak, Jack Wang)
Related News:
Bangkok airport: Departing passengers share earthquake experiences, fear stranded return home
Comment