A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, leaving at least 144 people dead and more than 700 injured, with tremors felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand.
The quake, which the US Geological Survey recorded at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, had its epicenter near the city of Sagaing. A second quake, registering 6.4, followed just minutes later.
In Myanmar, the military government declared a state of emergency in six regions as aid agencies scrambled to assess the damage. The Red Cross described the destruction as “significant,” while hospital officials in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw issued urgent calls for blood donations. Several key roads, including parts of the Mandalay-Yangon highway, were damaged, and a 90-year-old bridge in Sagaing collapsed.
In neighboring Thailand, the impact was deadly. The powerful tremor caused a 30-storey building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak Park to collapse, killing eight and leaving 81 construction workers missing. Seven survivors have been pulled from the debris so far. Authorities have since declared a state of emergency in the Thai capital.
Footage shared online captured the moment the high-rise swayed violently before crumbling into dust as bystanders screamed and fled. The tremors triggered mass evacuations across the city, with thousands rushing out of buildings onto the streets.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra urged residents to remain vigilant and prepare for potential aftershocks, advising people not to panic but to stay alert.
Myanmar’s ruling junta, typically reluctant to engage with the international community, issued a rare appeal for humanitarian aid, with global agencies now facing the challenge of navigating the country’s complex political landscape to provide support. The full scale of the disaster is still unfolding as communication remains limited in remote and conflict-ridden areas.
