A devastating earthquake centered in Myanmar has shaken Southeast Asia, resulting in the deaths of over 140 individuals in that nation, as reported by state media, and causing the collapse of buildings across a vast area.
The tremor also impacted Thailand, leading to at least nine fatalities in the capital, Bangkok.
Of the confirmed deaths, eight occurred when a building still under construction fell, while the ninth victim was from a separate location, according to Bangkok’s Deputy Governor.
Rescue operations indicate that more than 110 people remain unaccounted for following the building collapse.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake, which occurred during local lunchtime, registered a magnitude of 7.7 and was situated at a depth of 10 km, with its epicenter approximately 17 km from Mandalay.
Mandalay, an ancient royal capital with around 1.5 million residents, is at the heart of Myanmar’s Buddhist region.
Residents and local media have reported widespread damage to buildings, bridges, and roads.
Earthquakes are fairly frequent in Myanmar, having experienced six significant quakes of 7.0 magnitude or higher between 1930 and 1956 in the vicinity of the Sagaing Fault.
State-run MRTV announced via the Telegram messaging app that a minimum of 144 people had died in Myanmar, with 732 injuries reported.
“We all rushed outside as the shaking began,” recounted a Mandalay resident to Reuters. “I saw a five-story structure collapse right before my eyes. Everyone in my neighborhood is outdoors, afraid to return inside.”
A rescue worker from the Moe Saydanar charity conveyed to Reuters that they had recovered at least 60 bodies from monasteries and buildings in Pyinmanar, close to Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, with more individuals still trapped.
“This number of 60 is just from my charity group and only in the town of Pyinmanar,” he noted.
The military junta in Myanmar is currently engaged in a conflict to suppress insurgents challenging its authority, which may hinder ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
Watch: Earthquake collapses skyscraper under construction in Bangkok
Throughout Bangkok and the northern tourist hotspot of Chiang Mai, where power briefly went out, residents were left startled and rushed outside, unsure of how to react to the unexpected quake.
“I quickly dashed out of the shop along with other customers,” said 76-year-old Sai, who was working at a minimart in Chiang Mai during the tremor. “This is the most intense shake I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, where some metro and light rail services were temporarily halted, exacerbating the city’s already notorious traffic congestion.
Airports, however, continued to operate normally.
The quake’s effects were felt regionally, with reports of tremors coming in from China, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India.
Rescue teams are at a construction site in Bangkok where a building collapsed as a result of the earthquake.
A livestream from state-linked Beijing News displayed several emergency responders in orange jumpsuits and helmets on a street littered with debris in Ruili, a city on China’s border with Myanmar.
A shop worker participating in the livestream shared video footage of individuals running from stores, hands over their heads as tremors shook the area.
A video circulated on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, captured a torrent of water and debris cascading from a high-rise building in Ruili while people fled through a market below.
Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, where six strong quakes of 7.0 magnitude or greater were recorded from 1930 to 1956 near the Sagaing Fault, which spans north to south through the country’s center, according to the USGS.
A notable 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the ancient city of Bagan in central Myanmar in 2016, resulting in three deaths and causing damage to spires and temple walls at this key tourist location.
