A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Asia on Friday, causing widespread destruction in Myanmar and Thailand. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the epicenter was in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. The full extent of the damage there remains unclear due to Myanmar’s strict state control, but early reports indicate that the impact is severe.
In Thailand, at least three people have been confirmed dead, with 68 injured after a construction site in Bangkok collapsed during the quake. Officials fear the number of casualties could rise, as 70 workers remain unaccounted for, with at least 20 trapped inside an elevator shaft. The collapse occurred while approximately 320 workers were on site, according to Thailand’s National Institute of Emergency Medicine (NIEM).
Panic in Bangkok
The earthquake struck around 1:30 p.m. local time, setting off alarms across the Thai capital. Eyewitnesses described chaos as buildings shook violently. A British citizen on a business trip in Bangkok recounted, “We were under the main Sukhumvit railway station and thought a train had crashed. But as the tremors continued, people started to panic and ran outside.” Hotels and office buildings were swiftly evacuated.
Dramatic footage obtained by ABC News from a WeWork office in Bangkok showed water gushing from a rooftop swimming pool as office workers scrambled for safety. Authorities temporarily shut down the city’s BTS Skytrain and MRT subway systems as engineers assessed infrastructure damage. The Royal Thai Police began large-scale evacuations, guiding people from high-rise buildings to safer open areas.
State of Emergency in Myanmar
In Myanmar, where the earthquake originated, the ruling military junta declared a state of emergency in six regions: Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, northeastern Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw, and Bago. These areas are already fraught with political instability due to Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict. Mandalay, one of the last major cities firmly under junta control, now faces additional turmoil as aftershocks continue to rattle the region.
Humanitarian organizations have expressed concern that rescue efforts could be hampered by political tensions and limited access to affected areas. Reports suggest entire neighborhoods may have suffered structural collapses, though official figures remain scarce.
Comparisons to Historic Earthquakes
Seismologists note that the Myanmar quake was even more powerful than the infamous 1994 Northridge earthquake in California, which caused widespread destruction and claimed dozens of lives. Given that Bangkok is located roughly 600 miles from Mandalay, the fact that it suffered such significant damage underscores the sheer strength of this event.
Ongoing Rescue Operations
Search-and-rescue teams in Bangkok are working tirelessly to locate survivors trapped in the collapsed construction site. Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear debris, while emergency workers attempt to reach those still inside the wreckage. Meanwhile, hospitals across the city have been placed on high alert to handle a potential influx of additional casualties.
In Myanmar, limited information is emerging from affected areas due to military-imposed communication restrictions. However, early reports suggest that roads have cracked, buildings have collapsed, and power outages have plunged several towns into darkness.
International Aid and Response
Given Myanmar’s strained relationship with many Western nations, international disaster relief efforts may be complicated. However, regional powers such as China, India, and Thailand have signaled their willingness to provide assistance. The Red Cross and UN humanitarian agencies are also monitoring the situation closely.
As aftershocks continue and rescue efforts intensify, the true scale of the disaster is still unfolding. Authorities in both Myanmar and Thailand are bracing for further challenges in the coming days, with the risk of secondary collapses and infrastructure failures adding to the crisis.
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