When “Ghost” Overpowers Contemporary Government Buildings

Are earthquakes afraid of ghosts? Perhaps they are in Bangkok. The Sathorn Unique Tower, famously dubbed the “Ghost Tower,” has drawn considerable attention for its surprising resilience during the March 28 earthquake.

When an earthquake near Mandalay struck at 1:20 PM Bangkok time, triggering widespread panic in Bangkok, the tremor swayed skyscrapers and caused the collapse of a 33-story high-rise under construction—the new State Audit Office building—resulting in at least 17 fatalities and leaving dozens unaccounted for.

But the abandoned skyscraper —once envisioned as a luxury condominium, which looms over Bangkok’s skyline near the river — did not budge. Despite decades of neglect and exposure to harsh weather, the tower’s structure remains remarkably intact, sparking intrigue among engineers and urban explorers.

Amid this chaos, the Sathorn Unique Tower, a 49-story structure abandoned since the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, gained attention for surviving unscathed. Social media buzzed with images and posts, marveling at how this derelict “Ghost Tower” withstood a quake that felled a modern project 600 miles from the epicenter.

Why did it withstand the test of time? Constructed in the early 1990s with a reinforced concrete frame, the tower was originally designed as a luxury complex, predating Thailand’s adoption of comprehensive seismic codes. Experts believe its survival may be attributed to its sturdy skeletal structure, featuring thick columns and a simpler, unfinished design that avoids the flat-slab systems associated with the collapsed building’s failure.

Unlike the fallen high-rise, which used substandard steel and a cost-cutting “flat slab” method (per April 3 investigations), the Sathorn’s older construction avoided such shortcuts.

This wasn’t its first test—locals have long noted its durability despite neglect—but the March 28 quake made it a viral symbol of unintended resilience. By April 2, outlets like VnExpress dubbed it a “miracle,” though no official inspection confirmed its state post-quake. Given Thailand’s rare seismic activity, its endurance is more luck than design, a stark contrast to the 10% of Bangkok buildings estimated to be quake-resistant today.

How did the Ghost Tower withstand the earthquake on March 28, 2025, remaining steadfast while a nearby modern building collapsed? Was its survival purely coincidental, or does it highlight the resilience of traditional engineering? While a comprehensive structural analysis is yet to be conducted, one fact is clear—the Sathorn Tower has solidified its iconic status and shows no signs of fading away anytime soon.