Resilience Through Quakes: From Nepal’s 2015 Catastrophe to Thailand’s 2025 Crisis

A Shocking Afternoon in Bangkok

Yesterday, a powerful earthquake struck Myanmar near Mandalay, sending tremors across the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude of 7.7, though some media outlets cited it as 8.2. The quake, with a depth of 10 km, was impacted as far as Bangkok, Thailand.

The destruction in Myanmar was catastrophic. Reports indicated at least 1,002 deaths, with over 2,376 injured. Authorities feared the toll could surpass 10,000. In Bangkok, city officials confirmed six deaths, 26 injuries, and 47 missing persons. The under-construction 30-story skyscraper, located near Chatuchak Market, collapsed, with most casualties from the construction site.

My Personal Experience: Confusion and Realization

At the time of the earthquake, I was traveling to the Kronos Building for official work. While on the highway, I initially didn’t feel the tremor. Suddenly, I noticed hundreds of people gathering on the streets. My first thought was that a VIP or a public figure was passing by. Then, as security personnel raised red flags near buildings, I assumed there had been a power outage, causing people to step outside to escape the heat.

It wasn’t until a colleague received a phone call from home that we realized what happened: a massive earthquake had hit Myanmar, with impact reaching Bangkok. As I checked government updates and news portals, it became clear that this was a serious situation. A colleague from Myanmar frantically called friends back home, and we soon found ourselves in a city filled with confusion and fear.

Following the quake, offices shut down, and we were told they would remain closed until Tuesday. Attempting to book a taxi was futile, transport services were unavailable, and the roads were gridlocked with heavy traffic. We decided to seek a safe area near Lumphini Park and wait for transportation. However, as I had experienced the 2015 Nepal earthquake firsthand, I knew certain precautions were necessary.

I followed up and shared with my colleague.

• Call family members immediately to let them know you are safe before network issues arise.

• Save your phone’s battery, as power outages might follow.

• Prepare to walk home since transportation would be scarce.

• Keep cash, water, and food handy in case of extended disruptions.

• Stay calm and avoid panic, as fear can escalate situations unnecessarily.

Eventually, we walked nearly 5–6 km back to our living apartments, reaching our rooms around 7–8 PM, which was too hectic, and at the same time, we also observed diverse situations on the way. I took it as a learning experience. 

Comparing Earthquakes: Nepal (2015) vs. Myanmar-Thailand (2025)

I am not sure if it is comparable to the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015, but I just want to highlight some attributes of both earthquakes. Having lived through the 2015 earthquake, I can share my firsthand experience. Although I couldn’t do much here, I was at least mentally resilient and shared some of my experiences with colleagues, hoping it provided them with some insights. The magnitude was quite similar, but the impact differed significantly due to geographical and infrastructural differences. Some attributes of both earthquakes are the following: 

Emergency Response: Nepal vs. Thailand

As I mentioned earlier, the epicenters of the earthquakes in Nepal and Myanmar were distinct, and comparing the situation in Nepal, especially in Kathmandu, with that in Bangkok, Thailand, is not appropriate for each other. However, based on my observations and the facts I gathered, I want to share insights into the status of key services, people's situations, and the overall response during the earthquake. While these two disasters are not directly comparable, I hope this provides some perspective on infrastructure, service availability, people's resilience, supportiveness, and various other aspects.

While Bangkok was not as severely impacted as Nepal, the response from the public and private sectors during the emergency was strikingly different. In Nepal, despite widespread destruction, people and the private sector actively helped each other during that moment. In contrast, Bangkok's response was different. We were unable to get lift support from private vehicles while people were traveling alone in their own cars and motorbikes. If they had supported others, it would have been a great relief and humanitarian gesture during a difficult time. This is not a criticism or negative thought; it's just what I observed and felt.

Another thing I noticed was the fear in people's minds. People were scared, stressed, worried, and in a hurry. It was a big challenge to manage these emotions in such a situation. The chaotic and exhausting situation felt very similar to what I experienced during the first earthquake in Nepal. However, I was a bit calmer this time. I didn’t feel as panicked because I had already faced similar challenges in Nepal. I learned not to worry, hurry, or rush during those moments. Staying mentally stable helped me a lot, and I was able to share these lessons with my colleagues as well.

I hope that these lessons will help make the people of Myanmar and Bangkok more mentally resilient and better prepared in the future.

Reflections and Hope

While Bangkok was not as badly affected by this earthquake compared to Myanmar, my
thoughts are with the people of both Myanmar and Thailand, who are enduring immense suffering. Based on Nepal’s experience, I can only imagine the hardships they are facing: collapsed homes, scarce resources, and time for recovery.

This earthquake has reinforced the importance of disaster preparedness, both on an individual and systemic level. Governments, private institutions, and communities must work together to build resilient structures and effective emergency response mechanisms.

I pray to God that such a tragedy never happens again. Let’s hope for a world that learns from these experiences and prepares better for the future. My prayers are with all of us for a brighter and safer tomorrow

(Some Additional Photos : Online news, resources) 

(Pic Sources : News, Online media, facebook, my own collection, CNN video ICON)

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