A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Myanmar and parts of Thailand on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming more than 150 lives, with fears that the casualty count could climb higher, according to local authorities and international reports.
In Myanmar, the quake’s epicenter struck near the historic city of Mandalay, unleashing chaos across the region. State-run Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) reported 144 fatalities and over 700 injuries nationwide. The violent shaking toppled buildings in the capital, Naypyidaw, where rescue crews worked tirelessly to free trapped residents from collapsed government residences. Myanmar’s military leadership warned that the death toll might surge as communication lines are restored and rural areas are assessed.
Minutes after the initial quake, a 6.4-magnitude aftershock rattled the region, exacerbating the damage, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed. Crumbling infrastructure and landslides have hampered rescue efforts, with emergency teams battling to reach isolated villages buried under debris.
Across the border in Thailand, the disaster claimed at least nine lives in Bangkok, where a 33-storey building under construction near the bustling Chatuchak market pancaked into rubble. Amateur videos captured the horrifying moment the tower fell, sending plumes of dust into the air as bystanders ran in panic. Bangkok Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej reported eight deaths from the collapse alone, while Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai estimated 90 people remain unaccounted for in the city.
Emergency services in both nations are mobilizing resources to aid survivors, with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of injured. International aid organizations have pledged support as the full scope of the catastrophe unfolds. For now, rescuers dig through the wreckage, racing against time to save those still trapped beneath the ruins of this unprecedented disaster.
