Bangkok rescue footage taken night after building collapse, not days later
Text superimposed on the video reads: "Miracles are real."
The clip shows nighttime rescue efforts at the rubble site with someone saying: "OK, the toe wiggled. I can see your toe. Hang tight."
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar sent tremors to cities hundreds of kilometers away in China and Thailand. In Bangkok, a skyscraper that was under construction collapsed, prompting a rescue mission and scrutiny over a Chinese developer. (archived links here and here).
As rescue operations entered their eighth day on April 4, authorities at the site said they had found nine survivors and 15 bodies, while nearly 80 people remained missing.
The clip racked up more than 71,000 likes and 8,300 shares, with captions celebrating what appeared to be footage of someone rescued after spending three days under the rubble.
"Overjoyed that they found another one alive. I hope they keep finding more survivors," one commenter said.
Another user wrote: "I'm happy for the survivor."
However, the clip was filmed March 28 -- not April 1.
A keyword search for "Chayan Sawatdee" surfaced the same video posted March 31 by a Facebook user with that name -- a rescue worker at Bang O Fire and Rescue Station in Bangkok (archived link).
Chayan confirmed to AFP that he filmed the video the same day the building collapsed.
"I took the clip on the first day," Chayan said during an April 3 phone interview. "A man survived."
Metadata from Chayan's original video, which he shared with AFP, confirmed it was filmed the evening of March 28, hours after the skyscraper collapsed.
A representative from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) confirmed to AFP that no survivors were rescued April 1.
AFP has fact-checked other false and misleading claims about the earthquake here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
10-Year-Old Shih Tzu Crowned World's 'Ugliest' Dog in Need of Forever Home
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In an unofficial competition, an animal rescue organization marketed one of their available dogs as the world's "ugliest" in hopes of gathering attention for his adoption, while also proving that there's no such thing as an ugly dog. When a fellow rescuer reached out to Mac's Mission about Joiner, the organization immediately stepped in to help. One look at him told them everything: He needed attention. "He was absolutely covered in fleas, with painful scabs across his body, especially around his neck, where it looked like a collar had once been," a representative from Mac's Mission told Newsweek. "It was clear he had been neglected for far too long." Some described him as "cute in an ugly kind of way," but to Mac's Mission, they thought he was perfect—patchy fur, scabby skin and all. During his time at the rescue organization, the 10-year-old Shih Tzu received nicknames such as Crusty, Crustopher and "The World's Ugliest Dog." That's when it dawned on the organization to run with that title, hoping to attract the perfect forever home in a witty Facebook post. "We used his funny nicknames to share his story on social media—and guess what? The world noticed," the representative said. "His post sparked a big conversation and, most importantly, gave this scruffy sweetheart the attention he deserves." Photo of Joiner, a senior canine available for adoption, who some people are claiming could be the world's "ugliest" dog. Photo of Joiner, a senior canine available for adoption, who some people are claiming could be the world's "ugliest" dog. Mac's Mission/Facebook The July 15 Facebook post reached over 6,300 likes and 1,100 shares within two days. People flocked to the comment section, defending Joiner's perfect self. "No, there's no such thing as an ugly dog, especially this one," wrote one Facebook user. "Bless his sweet heart! Praying for a loving home soon," another person wrote in the comments. However, the attention has yet to lead to his forever family. The representative said there had been no interest in adoption for Joiner so far. Until that day comes, he's happily enjoying his time with the organization's medical fosters as he is recovering from his severe flea allergy that left his skin and fur in "ruins." He began antibiotics and has since been diagnosed with a grade 3 heart murmur. Those interested in adopting Joiner or another available animal can apply through the Mac's Mission website. "Joiner may have been overlooked before, but around here, he's nothing short of a star," the organization said. "Ugly? Nah. We call it character." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Massive sea creature makes eye contact with boaters off California. See it stare
A massive sea creature spotted off the coast of California really kept its eye on boaters. Boaters got the chance to see an 'absolutely incredible once in a lifetime encounter' with a humpback whale, according to a July 17 Facebook post by the Monterey Bay Whale Watch. The 'friendly' humpback 'rolled over on their side' and made direct eye contact with the onlookers, the group said. But the 'outstanding day' on July 16 didn't stop there – the whale even showed off some 'fun behaviors' like breaching and displaying its tail, the group said. Humpbacks usually display this behavior as a means of communicating with other whales as the sound of them slapping their bodies against the water can be 'heard for miles' underwater, according to The Marine Mammal Center. Later, the group was able to spot a 'big beautiful cetacean' – a blue whale, the group said. Along with the bright-eyed humpback and blue whale, the group was able to see a combined 60 other humpback whales and 45 Risso's dolphins throughout the day. Monterey is about a 120-mile drive south from San Francisco.
New York Post
12 hours ago
- New York Post
Ultrasound photo found in Texas floods reunited with mom
It was a beautiful reminder of life — in the depths of devastation. An ultrasound photo swept away in the horrific Texas flooding was dutifully returned to a Kerrville mom of two by volunteers who drove three hours to personally deliver it, The Post has learned. Lacy Frondorf, 40, thought the sweet framed photo of her daughter, Willow, in utero was lost forever when their garage, where it was housed, washed away in the early hours of July 4. 9 Texas mom Lacy Frondorf was reunited with ultrasound photos of her daughter Willow that she thought were lost to the flooding earlier this month. Courtesy of Lacy Frondorf 9 The framed ultrasound photo of Willow that was discovered by the Berclair Volunteer Fire Department. Facebook/Kerrville Tx Community Group 9 The photo was in the Frondorfs' garage when it flooded. Facebook/Kerrville Tx Community Group 'She's an incredible child. Strong, beautiful, smart, sweet,' Frondorf told The Post Wednesday referring to her now 9-year-old daughter, 'and so to have that, you know, I broke down in the kitchen last night, cleaning it off and I'm just overwhelmed with so many emotions.' 'When you're in a house trying to figure out what's important, that was interesting, because you don't grab pictures … you grab things that are in front of your face or things that you have maybe stored away, documents, but you don't grab pictures,' Frondorf said. The muddied photo — which Frondorf had not had digitized — was found about 10 miles away, in Center Point, by Roger Flores, 22, who was volunteering with his mother, Marlena, to aid in cleanup efforts. 'Me, being a mother, I know it meant something to her,' said Marlena, with the Berclair Volunteer Fire Department. 'I was like, I have to go above and beyond to find her,' Flores said. 9 The floodwaters at the Frondorfs' house in Kerrville. Courtesy of Lacy Frondorf 9 Debris seen at the house after the flood. Courtesy of Lacy Frondorf Marlena posted a photo of the ultrasound pic to a Facebook group dedicated to Kerrville victims, asking for help and noting the name on it — which was cut off as 'Lacy Ndorf.' 'Please if anyone knows her let her know we have and we will travel back to give it to her!!' the post said. An eagle-eyed Facebook user alerted Marlena, 42, of the photo's rightful owner — and the two quickly got in touch to arrange for Roger and his sister to drive three hours from Berclair, where various recovered flood items were being housed, to Kerrville. Frondorf, a registered nurse who also has an 11-year-old son, told Marlena that they lost their 'baby memories' in the floods. 9 The post about the photos on a Facebook page set up for victims of the flooding in Kerrville. Courtesy of Lacy Frondorf 'When someone finds an ultrasound picture, I think it gives you just a glimpse of hope, and peace, and love,' Frondorf said. 'It gives you a little bit more to keep going and keep fighting.' The historic flooding in Texas Hill Country in the early hours of the Fourth of July left 134 people dead, including 107 in Kerr County alone. Dozens more are still missing. Frondorf said 12 bodies were found on her property, which abuts the Guadalupe River. Her house, thankfully, was spared from flooding since it sits on higher ground but their car and garage were washed away. The mom sent Willow — who spends her days fishing and swimming in the river — to live with her grandparents until recovery efforts subside. 9 Willow with her brother. Courtesy of Lacy Frondorf 'We've found multiple deceased people on our property, and it's very difficult to find those things,' Frondorf said, describing her home as a 'war zone.' Flores has also been emotional while digging through the wreckage. She's spent her weekends with her family, driving to areas near Kerrville and combing through the destruction while fighting back tears. Follow The Post's coverage on the deadly Texas flooding 'We've found lifejackets, baby life jackets. That was very emotional, I had to cry, because a baby probably had that on and didn't survive, and we found it miles away,' Flores said. The Frondorfs believed their beloved 500-pound pig, Mohawk, was also killed in the flooding because his pen was underwater. 'We love this sweet pig, we've had him for three years. He's a rescue pig, and we were devastated immediately because he was underwater when we drove by,' Frondorf said. 9 The Frondorfs' pet pig Mohawk also managed to survive the flood. Courtesy of Lacy Frondorf So they were amazed when they found Mohawk walking on the side of the road hours after they evacuated. 'Apparently pigs swim very well, so he made it,' Frondorf said. For Frondorf, the strength of the Texas community is what keeps her going, and she's grateful for the selfless volunteers. 9 Willow was sent to live with her grandparents during the recovery efforts in Kerrville. Courtesy of Lacy Frondorf 'People have been so awesome, search and rescue volunteers giving their time and their sweat, and that's how that ultrasound picture was recovered,' Frondorf said. Flores said she won't stop until the work is done. 'If it were to happen to us, in our part of Texas where we live, I'm sure they would pick up and come help us,' Flores said. 'That's how Texas rolls. When one hurts, we all hurt in Texas.'
