7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar & Bangkok, 144 Dead, 732 Injured
Six earthquakes, the largest of 7.7 magnitude, struck near Sagaing in central Myanmar at 12:50 p.m. (local time) on Friday, killing at least 144 people and injuring 732 more, according to state-run broadcaster MRTV.
The number of casualties includes those from a mosque in Mandalay that collapsed while people were praying inside, a university building in the same city where a fire started, and a hospital in the capital Naypyidaw, which is expected to turn into a “mass casualty area,” according to physicians there who spoke to news agency AFP.
Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the Myanmar junta, has declared a “emergency” and called for assistance, urging “any country and any organization” to come forward after warning that the death toll is sure to rise.
Even in northern Thailand, where the Thai capital’s metro and rail services were temporarily interrupted, tremors were felt. After calling off an official visit to Phuket to have an urgent review meeting, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also proclaimed a state of “emergency” in the city.
There have been three reported fatalities from a Bangkok building collapse.
Yunnan region in China also experienced powerful earthquakes, with a magnitude of 7.9 according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. Additionally, Dhaka and Chattogram in Bangladesh, as well as Kolkata in Bengal and portions of Manipur, where tremors of magnitude 4.4 were recorded, reported minor vibrations.
Bangladesh and Vietnam also experienced tremors and aftershocks.
Thus yet, no fatalities have been recorded from China or any other location.
According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is prepared to provide whatever support that may be required. He wrote, “Praying for the safety and wellbeing of everyone,” on X. “… have asked our authorities to be on standby.”
Assistance has also been provided by European leaders.
Scary Videos Of Bangkok Tremors
On X, terrifying footage showed people fleeing into the streets in fear as buildings in Bangkok and other cities began to tremble. “I heard it… I was sleeping in the house and then I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building,” Duangjai, who lives in the well-known tourist destination of Chiang Mai, told AFP.
Another depicted the collapse of a 30-story tower that was still under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak neighborhood. 84 workers were stranded, according to Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Deputy Police Chief Worapat Sukthai told AFP, “When I arrived to inspect the site, I heard people calling for help, saying help me,” deputy police chief Worapat Sukthai, told AFP. “We estimate hundreds are injured but are still determining number of casualties.” This location has so far been linked to three confirmed deaths.
Devastation In Myanmar
According to AFP, “hundreds of casualties” were brought to a hospital in the capital of Myanmar.
Medics were forced to treat patients outside and on the road after the emergency department’s entry arch collapsed onto a car, as shown in horrifying images.
Images from Mandalay, which is around 24 kilometers from Sagaing, indicate that dozens more people may be trapped after an old bridge over the Irrawaddy River and other residential buildings collapsed.
Additional footage revealed significant damage to a monastery close to the city of Taunggyi in Shan State, Myanmar, which borders Thailand, as well as to the Mandalay airport.
Although rescue crews have begun massive operations to look for survivors, the situation is dire, with reports of destroyed infrastructure and collapsed buildings, especially in the Mandalay region.
Relief operations have been hindered by the damage to the roads connecting Mandalay and Yangon.
The History of Quakes in Myanmar
Myanmar experiences earthquakes frequently; from 1930 to 1956, six powerful earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher occurred close to the Sagaing Fault, which runs through the nation from north to south.
In 2016, spires and decaying temple walls at the popular tourist attraction were toppled by a strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Bagan, the historic capital in central Myanmar, killing three people.
The medical system of the poor country is under stress, particularly in its rural provinces.
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