49-storey 'Ghost Tower' in Bangkok goes viral after surviving powerful earthquake

Myanmar's strongest earthquake in 100 years struck on March 28, sending tremors across Bangkok, 1,000 km from the epicenter. The quake caused a high-rise building under construction to collapse and shook many buildings throughout the city.

However, the Sathorn Unique Tower, located in Bangkok's Sathon District and abandoned for more than 30 years, remained standing, surprising many.

On social media, numerous users shared images of the building, questioning how such an abandoned structure could withstand the powerful earthquake.

A photo shared on social media shows a view of Sathorn Unique Tower, a 49-storey building in Bangkok.

"I was visiting Bangkok with my girlfriend over the last couple of weeks, and both of us were in awe when we saw it for the first time. We were so intrigued and really wanted to know more!" a netizen wrote on Reddit.

"I was actually wondering about that building. Seems like maybe they should retrofit it and sell. Why hasn't anything been done with it?," another wrote.

Originally conceived in the 1990s as a luxury residential and office complex, the tower was designed to be a 49-story high-rise offering stunning views of the Chao Phraya River. However, as construction neared its midpoint, the Asian financial crisis hit in 1997, devastating the Thai economy, The Telegraph reported.

Many real estate projects, including the tower, were abandoned due to a lack of funding.

With its incomplete state and eerie, skeletal appearance, the building was dubbed as the "Ghost Tower," with the eerie allure making it an ideal destination for daredevil tourists.

A tourist shared on Travelfreak that he paid 200 baht (US$5.84) to a security guard to gain access for 15 minutes.

Travel blogger Jack Morris, who has 2.4 million Instagram followers, visited the top floor of the Sathorn building in 2015.

He wrote, "Every time I come to Bangkok, I can't help but climb up this abandoned 49-story building. In my opinion, this is the place with the best view of the city. I love the feeling of freedom when I'm here, a feeling I never get when standing in the bars on the top floors. Locals call it the 'Ghost Tower' because some believe it is haunted."