9. Royal Plaza Hotel, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Built: 1983
Collapsed: 1993
Est. Damages: Unknown
Originally, the complex that would later be converted into the Royal Plaza Hotel was just a 3-story structure, however, in 1985, when the transformation into a hotel took place, 3 additional floors were added to the building without the proper construction permissions. It wasn’t until 5 years later, in 1990, that the proper paperwork was sought after, but by then the hotel’s top three floors had already been built.
Royal Plaza Hotel, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand @Ian Strachan / Pinterest.com
On August 13, 1993, the Royal Plaza Hotel was simultaneously hosting two conferences when the hotel collapsed with nearly 400 people still inside. It’s said that it took less than ten seconds for the 6-story hotel to be reduced to nothing more than rubble – only the front elevator hall was left standing. 137 lives were lost and 227 others were injured in the collapse.