A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, killing more than 20 people and causing widespread destruction across the country and neighboring Thailand. The quake, followed by a strong 6.4-magnitude aftershock, toppled buildings, damaged bridges, and left over 80 workers trapped in a collapsed skyscraper in Bangkok.
Devastation in Myanmar
The shallow tremor’s epicenter was northwest of Sagaing, a city in central Myanmar. The impact was severe, with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties. A doctor at a hospital in the capital, Naypyidaw, anonymously told AFP that about 20 bodies had been brought in, while emergency crews struggled to treat the injured outside after part of the hospital’s entrance collapsed.
Myanmar’s military junta, which has been isolated internationally due to its brutal civil war, made a rare plea for international aid. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said, "We want the international community to give humanitarian aid as soon as possible." The request suggests the scale of destruction may be far worse than initially reported, with Myanmar’s already fragile infrastructure further weakened by years of conflict.
Rescuers worked into the night, attempting to pull survivors from the rubble. AFP journalists witnessed efforts to save a mother and son trapped under a collapsed building in Naypyidaw, though rescue teams struggled to reach them.
In Thailand, the quake caused a partially built high-rise near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market to collapse, killing at least three workers and leaving 81 missing under twisted metal and concrete. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the casualties, while rescuers searched for survivors in the unstable wreckage.
"I heard people calling for help, saying 'help me,'" said Worapat Sukthai, deputy police chief of Bangkok’s Bang Sue district. Authorities estimated hundreds were injured across the city.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that all buildings in Bangkok would need safety inspections, though details on how this would be implemented remained unclear.
The quake was felt across Southeast Asia, with tremors reported in China, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India. In Thailand’s northern tourist hub of Chiang Mai, power outages briefly occurred as panicked residents rushed into the streets.
"This is the strongest tremor I've experienced in my life," said Sai, a 76-year-old Chiang Mai resident.
Bangkok declared an emergency zone, suspending some metro and light rail services, worsening the city’s notorious traffic. Many commuters opted to walk home or take shelter in shopping malls and office buildings. City officials announced that public parks would remain open overnight for those afraid to return home.
India, France, and the European Union offered assistance, while the World Health Organization (WHO) mobilized emergency medical supplies from its Dubai logistics hub. The WHO described the quake as a "very, very big threat to life and health."
China’s state media showed emergency crews responding in Ruili, a city near the Myanmar border, where debris fell from buildings as people fled through streets.
Myanmar sits on the seismically active Sagaing Fault, which has produced multiple major quakes in the past. A 6.8-magnitude quake in 2016 damaged ancient temples in Bagan, killing three.
As rescue efforts continue, the full extent of the disaster remains uncertain, with fears that the death toll could rise significantly in the coming days.
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