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A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, killing at least three people in Bangkok and trapping dozens under rubble in Thailand. The tremors have also led to widespread destruction in Myanmar, where a state of emergency has been declared in six regions.
The initial quake hit 16 kilometers northwest of Sagaing at a depth of 10 kilometers at around 12:50 p.m. local time, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Myanmar’s ruling military announced urgent rescue operations and humanitarian aid.
Hospitals in Naypyidaw, including a major general hospital, have been overwhelmed, treating casualties outside their emergency departments. In Taungoo, three people died when a mosque partially collapsed during prayers.
The Myanmar Fire Services Department is conducting search-and-rescue missions, though information on casualties is still being gathered. Social media posts from Mandalay show buildings reduced to rubble, while in Yangon, emergency services are assessing damage.
In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, a 30-story under-construction tower collapsed, killing at least three people and trapping 81 others. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the deaths and ongoing rescue operations.
Public transport systems in Bangkok were temporarily shut down, causing severe traffic congestion. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency, while the Bangkok city hall has labeled the capital a disaster area.
The tremors were also felt in China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, causing injuries and structural damage in the border city of Ruili. Videos circulating online show debris-strewn streets and emergency responders evacuating the injured.
Earthquakes are common in Myanmar due to the active Sagaing Fault, but experts warn that the country’s ongoing civil conflict has led to overcrowding in urban areas and weakened building standards, increasing the risk of disaster.
As aftershocks continue to rattle the region, authorities in both Myanmar and Thailand are intensifying rescue efforts, with fears that the death toll could rise.
