This is the terrifying moment a three-storey apartment block collapsed due to subsidence.
The building's foundations suddenly gave way while more than 60 residents were inside on Wednesday evening (Aug 19).
CCTV footage shows how walls in the 30-room concrete block collapsed in Samut Sakhon province.
Terrified residents fled while others tried to help their neighbours escape, leaving their belongings in the rooms. Motorcycles parked in front of the five-year-old apartment were seen scattered on the ground.
Officials who are investigating the collapse believe a nearby pond caused subsidence.
The emergency services arrived at the scene and questioned Yiam Kladcharoen, 68, who was having dinner at her nearby home when she heard the collapse.
Yiam said: "I don't know why the building fell down, but I think there might be some problem with the foundations.'' The landlord is now providing food and temporary accommodation for the residents.
She said the block was built in 2015 and its foundation piles were 21 metres deep.
Her tenants would be re-housed at a new apartment building that stood on 30-metre-deep piles.
She added: "I will give my residents free food and money to help them until the situation eases.
They will be offered a free place to sleep and rest." One tenant said she was preparing dinner in her room when she felt the building trembling.
She said: "My boyfriend and I were shocked when we felt the building tumbling down so we tried to run away." The district chief Wattana Teangmanee forced the rescue team to guard the area, not letting anyone going inside the building.
He said: "We need to investigate the scene to find more evidence about how the building had collapsed.
If the construction has not followed the correct regulations the owner will be prosecuted.'' The Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT)surveyed the site yesterday with a team of experts bringing in equipment to gauge the extent of the structural damage and investigate the possible cause of the subsidence.
Institute president Thanes Veerasiri said a nearby pond may have compromised the building's structural strength.
