A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. The tremors were felt across the region, including in neighboring Thailand, where a high-rise collapse in Bangkok left at least 10 dead and over 100 missing.
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where extensive damage was reported. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s military leader, announced on state television that at least 144 people had been killed and 730 injured. Authorities fear the toll will rise as rescue operations continue.
In Myanmar, the quake reduced buildings to rubble, including a major monastery in Mandalay. Photos from the capital, Naypyidaw, showed emergency crews pulling victims from collapsed government housing. A dam burst in Mandalay, flooding low-lying areas, and two bridges fell, cutting off vital routes between key cities.
Thailand reported severe destruction in Bangkok, where three construction sites crumbled. Officials confirmed at least 10 deaths, 16 injuries, and 101 missing.
Aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4 magnitude, rattled the region, complicating rescue efforts. The U.S. Geological Survey warned the death toll could exceed 1,000. The United Nations allocated $5 million in emergency aid, while Myanmar’s government expressed willingness to accept international assistance.
Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict poses significant challenges to disaster response. With more than 3 million people displaced and humanitarian access restricted, relief workers fear a prolonged crisis.
“We may not fully grasp the destruction for weeks,” said Mohammed Riyas, International Rescue Committee’s Myanmar director. As Myanmar reels from war and economic turmoil, this disaster deepens an already dire humanitarian crisis.