A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, leaving at least 144 people dead and 732 injured, according to Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 10km, had its epicenter 16km (10 miles) northwest of the city of Sagaing. Its tremors were felt as far as southwestern China and Thailand.
The disaster has also led to a major crisis in Thailand, where 81 construction workers remain missing after an unfinished high-rise building collapsed in Bangkok, hundreds of miles from the epicenter. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister confirmed the incident, and emergency response teams have been mobilized for search and rescue efforts.
Widespread Devastation and Rising Casualties
In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with a population of 1.5 million, a rescuer described the damage as “enormous.” Roads in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, have buckled, and authorities have declared a state of emergency across six regions. Officials fear the death toll will rise as search and rescue operations continue.
A second earthquake, measuring 6.4 in magnitude, struck just 12 minutes after the first, with its epicenter 18km (11.1 miles) south of Sagaing, intensifying fears of aftershocks. Residents in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, reported feeling prolonged tremors. Meanwhile, in Bangkok, buildings swayed, sparking concerns over structural integrity, as Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited the collapsed building site to oversee rescue efforts.
A Nation in Crisis
Myanmar, already grappling with political instability since the 2021 military coup, has made a rare international appeal for aid following the quake. The disaster exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation, with over 3.5 million people displaced due to ongoing conflict. The Sagaing region, where the earthquake struck, has been a key battleground in Myanmar’s civil war, further complicating relief efforts.
The extent of the destruction remains unclear as government-controlled media limits access to information, and internet restrictions hamper communication. With rescue teams racing against time, the world watches as Myanmar and Thailand struggle to recover from one of the most devastating earthquakes in recent history.
