PrashantNews
A massive earthquake of 7.7 magnitude followed by multiple tremors struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday killing over 144 people in the two nations where several buildings were extensively damaged.
A total of 7 earthquakes ranging from 4.5 to 7.7 magnitudes were reported in a short gap of four hours in Myanmar alone. The first massive earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck at around 1150 hours, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. It said the quake had a depth of 10 km, with its epicenter located about 17.2 km from Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, which has a population of about 1.2 million.
Horrific videos of several buildings collapsing were widely seen on X and other social medial platform. Some pictures just resemble the scenes of the 9/11 twin building collapse in New York.
In Bangkok, a high-rise under construction collapsed, killing at least three and leaving over 90 missing. The Thai capital has been declared a disaster area. Myanmar’s ruling military also declared a state of emergency in multiple regions, media reports said.
Media reports quoting Myanmar’s state run MRTV said at least 144 people were killed and 732 injured in the earthquakes.
In Myanmar, multiple buildings collapsed, including Ma Soe Yane monastery, one of the largest in the country, and damaged the former royal palace and government housing in Naypyidaw. Roads cracked, a bridge collapsed, and a dam burst, leading to flooding in low-lying areas. In Sagaing region just southwest of the city, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and some sections of the highway connecting Mandalay and Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, were also damaged.
In Thailand, authorities confirmed that at least three people died in Bangkok after a 33-story building under construction crumbled. Plumes of dust can be seen from a far off distance with people running for cover, several videos on social media reported.
Rescuers have pulled at least seven survivors from the rubble, but many remain trapped. Sirens blared across the city as emergency services scrambled to respond, and the subway and elevated transit systems were shut down.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as buildings swayed violently, forcing thousands onto the streets. In Bangkok, people rushed out of office towers and malls, some running the wrong way down escalators in panic. Water poured from rooftop pools, and frightened residents stood in shock as aftershocks followed. A Scottish tourist in Bangkok recalled, “All of a sudden, the whole building began to move. People were screaming and running everywhere.” In Mandalay, social media posts showed collapsed buildings and widespread debris. Videos captured monks filming their monastery moments before it crumbled. The full extent of casualties remains unclear due to Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict, which has made rescue operations even more challenging.
Significantly, geologists said they would study the earthquake in details before making any comments. Some geologists have been claiming that a massive earthquake of 8 magnitude is likely to hit Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile, tremors were also felt in Delhi and its NCR regions but there was no damage.