Father and son running an investigation and security firm in central Bangkok — a real-life experience.
A few minutes after 1 PM, we felt the building sway. At first, we thought we heard water dripping into the false ceiling — but it was actually small pieces of concrete falling. A second shake confirmed it: we were in the middle of an earthquake.
The team was on lunch break. Following our regular practice, they had already stored their laptops in the office safe. We decided not to waste a second worrying about the remaining two computers — I just grabbed a small bag with IDs, cash and my cigarettes and we left.
In the hallway, two men were calmly waiting for the lift, eyes glued to their phones. We warned them not to take the elevator and continued toward the emergency staircase — which, to our surprise, was empty.
We were on the 27th floor.
We began descending quickly. I held the stair railing with the left hand, while the other hand gripped my son’s hand — held high — to help maintain balance as the building swayed. That instinct proved wise: at one point, my son was thrown against the wall by a sudden lateral jolt.
We kept moving fast down to the 10th floor. That’s when we met others — people rushing in, some crying and screaming, convinced the building was about to collapse. A few were barefoot, some tripping, shoes and bags scattered across the stairs.
Then — two loud cracks. Like concrete walls collapsing. Combined with the building’s swaying and the crowd’s panic, it felt like the structure was giving way.
The lower we got, the more crowded and chaotic it became. Only about 30–50 people were ahead of us by the time we reached the ground floor. A man kindly held the exit door open. We were out.
In the adjacent street, thousands were gathered. It was only then that we truly realized the scale of the event. We moved quickly away from tall buildings and into open space.
We recorded a voice message to reassure family and friends.
We gathered our team, set a meeting point, and provided them with cash to cover overpriced transport or temporary accommodation if needed.
What Did We Learn?
- Our situational awareness was excellent — we descended half the building before encountering anyone else.
- We prioritized mobility over possessions — we left without our computers, only taking IDs and cash. One of us always carries a multi-tool and flashlight which came in handy as the electricity was briefly cut off but,
- We forgot to our the medical emergency/first aid bag,
- The alarm system was not audible until we were near the ground.
- Most people were calm but alert, awaiting possible aftershocks.
Reflections After the Event:
- After the loud cracking sounds, we both had the same grim thought: “Dying in an emergency staircase would be a stupid way to go.”
- The city was completely blocked. With no access to our vehicle nor public transport, we walked to our residences, not knowing if they were accessible or safe.
- The physical stress of the descent and the adrenaline left our legs sore for two days.
- The building remained closed for several days. We still don’t know the full extent of the damage — and trust in the building management is now limited.
- We lost just 24 hours of operations. Business is now back to normal.
Final Thoughts
Preparedness and calm thinking make the difference. We operate in the investigation and security business — but it’s only when theory becomes reality that your protocols, instincts, and resilience are tested.