An Osona in Bangkok
Jordi Casanovas, a resident of Balenyà, has found his home in Bangkok for the last thirteen years. His arrival in the Thai capital took place thanks to his passion for football, which led him to serve as a coach at various academies. Since 2016, he has led an academy he founded with a compatriot, Jordi Bartés.
A devastating earthquake
Last Friday, Casanovas experienced an unforgettable and frightening experience when a 7.7 -degree earthquake shook the region. The epicenter, located in Mandalay, Myanmar, led to a large number of victims, with more than 1,600 deaths reported, including 10 in Bangkok. The quake was heard in several neighboring countries, leaving a sense of vulnerability in the area.
A moment of panic
Casanovas recalls the intensity of the moment: ‘It was a short, but very intense episode, which did not last more than 40 seconds’. At the time of the earthquake, he was in the popular district of China Town, where he experienced a feeling of dizziness. He initially thought it was a health problem, but he quickly realized that it was the ground that moved.
The effects of the quake
After the earthquake, the reaction of the people was immediate: everyone was looking for a refuge in the street, far from the buildings. Casanovas, worried about his partner and his son, tried to return home, but the traffic was fully collapsed. He parked his car and walked to meet his family.
Damage to the capital
On his journey, he noticed that the Chatuchack Market district had suffered significant damage, with buildings under construction and numerous cracks. Fortunately, his residence, an eight -storey building, did not suffer damage, but Casanovas is aware of the difficulties that other residents face.
Resilience and adaptation
Members of the Football Academy, including a young man who lives on a 33 apartment without a lift, have to deal with their own difficulties. Casanovas comments that many of the Japanese who train with them are already more accustomed to facing such situations, which helps to stay calm.
The uncertainty of the situation
What worries Casanovas and his team most is the lack of information on the situation in Myanmar. The devastation images that have circulated on social media have created a sense of anguish. A club player, who comes from a wealthy family in Myanmar, shared that three of his family’s five houses have disappeared.
An uncertain future
Despite the uncertainty, the Casanovas Academy has decided to resume sports activities, with teams playing the scheduled games. Life continues in Bangkok, but fear and concern about what may happen to the community, which is waiting for the clearest news in the affected region.
