# When “Ghost” Overpowers Contemporary Government Buildings

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/real-estate/207452-when-ghost-overpowers-contemporary-government-buildings
- Published: 2025-04-06T16:29:56+07:00
- Author: Olivier Languepin

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.

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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.

> Sathorn Unique Tower, an unfinished Skyscraper built in the 1990s survived the
> Thailand Earthquake
> V/SA 99% finished Skyscraper being built by China [pic.twitter.com/cDzWQOwIyk](https://t.co/cDzWQOwIyk)
> — SynthVidco (@SynthwaveVidco) [March 30, 2025](https://twitter.com/SynthwaveVidco/status/1906217234864701942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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.**

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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.**