A massive earthquake struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. At least three people were confirmed dead in Bangkok, while dozens were trapped when a high-rise under construction collapsed. The quake’s tremors were felt in multiple regions, leaving many cities in ruins and raising fears of more casualties.
Earthquake Details and Impact
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake, centered near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, struck around midday. It was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock, exacerbating the damage. The full extent of the disaster remains unclear, particularly in Myanmar, where a civil war has already left the country in a state of crisis and restricted access to information.
In Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, multiple buildings housing civil servants collapsed, forcing emergency responders to launch urgent rescue operations. Blood donations were in high demand as hospitals scrambled to treat the injured. Additionally, infrastructure damage, including cracked roads, bridge collapses, and dam failures, has made access to some areas nearly impossible.
Destruction in Bangkok
Near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak market, a 33-story high-rise under construction crumbled, sending a massive dust cloud into the sky. Eyewitness footage showed panicked onlookers running for safety. Sirens blared across the city as emergency responders struggled to navigate congested streets. Public transport systems, including the city’s elevated transit and subway, were temporarily shut down.
Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed that at least three people were killed in Bangkok, while 90 were reported missing. Emergency crews rescued seven people from the rubble, with fears mounting that many more remain trapped. Most of the victims were construction workers, crushed under falling debris.
Eyewitness Accounts
Residents and tourists in Bangkok described scenes of panic. April Kanichawanakul, an office worker, initially mistook the tremors for dizziness before realizing the severity of the quake.
“All of a sudden, the whole building began to move. Immediately, there was screaming and a lot of panic,” said Fraser Morton, a Scottish tourist caught in a shopping mall during the quake.
Voranoot Thirawat, a lawyer in central Bangkok, recalled watching a light fixture swinging before hearing the building creak ominously. She and her colleagues ran down 12 flights of stairs to safety.
Paul Vincent, a tourist from England, witnessed a high-rise swaying and water pouring from a rooftop pool.
“There were people crying in the streets. The panic was horrendous,” he recounted.
Myanmar’s Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
Mandalay bore the brunt of the earthquake, with historic buildings such as the Ma Soe Yane monastery reduced to rubble. A video posted online showed monks capturing footage of their monastery seconds before it collapsed. A 90-year-old bridge in Sagaing region also crumbled, and key highways linking Mandalay to Yangon sustained significant damage.
The military government, already embroiled in a civil war since seizing power in 2021, declared a state of emergency in six regions, including Mandalay and Naypyidaw. However, with millions displaced by ongoing conflict and nearly 20 million in need of humanitarian aid, relief efforts face significant obstacles. The Red Cross reported difficulties reaching affected areas due to downed power lines and damaged roads.
International Response and Ongoing Rescue Efforts
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Germany’s GFZ center for geosciences classified the earthquake as a shallow event at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), increasing the likelihood of severe damage.
The Thai government declared Bangkok a disaster zone, while emergency responders focused on rescue efforts in affected areas. In China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, bordering Myanmar, reports of damage and injuries surfaced, particularly in Ruili, where buildings collapsed and residents were forced into the streets.
In the wake of the devastation, humanitarian agencies stress the urgent need for food, water, and shelter. Christian Aid’s Julie Mehigan emphasized the dire situation, stating, “This disaster will have left people devastated and in need of urgent assistance.”
Authorities in Myanmar and Thailand continue to assess the full impact of the disaster as aftershocks pose an ongoing threat. The world watches as rescue operations unfold, hoping to find survivors amidst the ruins.
—AP
