Bangkok, Thailand – A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread panic and destruction across the region. The earthquake’s impact was felt hundreds of miles away, triggering building collapses and infrastructure damage in neighboring Thailand and China.
In Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, authorities declared an emergency zone after the tremors caused a high-rise building under construction to collapse, resulting in one fatality and 50 injuries. Video footage shared online showed terrified residents running from swaying residential towers as thick dust filled the air, and traffic came to a standstill on busy city streets.
Myanmar’s Sagaing Region at the Epicenter
The earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Sagaing region of Myanmar, close to the country’s second-largest city, Mandalay, home to nearly 1 million people. The Sagaing region has already been devastated by an ongoing civil war, making rescue and relief efforts even more challenging.
Residents in Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital located 380 miles from the epicenter, described the quake as “very sudden and very strong.”
“We felt the quake for about one minute, then we ran out of the building,” a Yangon resident told CNN. “We saw others doing the same. It was terrifying.”
Reports suggest phone networks briefly went down in Yangon before being restored. In Mandalay, a bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River collapsed, further complicating transportation and relief operations.
Earthquake Triggers Structural Collapses in Thailand
Thailand’s Prime Minister swiftly moved to declare an emergency in Bangkok after the earthquake caused a high-rise building under construction to collapse. The incident killed one person and injured at least 50 others.
“I couldn’t stay inside,” said a resident of Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, who felt the tremors. “So I rushed out onto the street.”
The quake’s tremors also rattled cities across northern Thailand, leading to reports of cracked buildings and infrastructure damage.
China’s Yunnan Province Feels the Impact
The effects of the Myanmar earthquake extended to China’s southwestern Yunnan province, which shares a border with Myanmar. Reports indicate that tremors were felt across the region, but no immediate casualties or severe damages were confirmed in China.
Myanmar’s Vulnerability to Natural Disasters
Myanmar remains one of Asia’s poorest nations and is currently ill-equipped to handle major natural disasters. The country has been reeling from over four years of civil war, sparked by a bloody military coup in 2021. The ongoing conflict has left the country’s infrastructure crippled, making disaster response slow and ineffective.
Sagaing region, where the epicenter of the earthquake was located, has been one of the hardest-hit areas in Myanmar’s civil war. Rebel groups, military forces, and local militias battle for control of the region, making access to emergency services difficult.
The collapse of a major bridge over the Irrawaddy River will further hinder relief efforts, cutting off key transport routes.
Global Response and Calls for Aid
International organizations, including the United Nations (UN) and the Red Cross, have called for immediate humanitarian assistance to the affected regions. Several countries in Southeast Asia have pledged to offer emergency aid and rescue teams to help with the disaster response.
Thailand has deployed emergency response teams to assess damage in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, while Myanmar authorities are struggling to coordinate a response amid political instability.
Future Earthquake Preparedness Needed in the Region
Experts have long warned that Myanmar and Thailand are in a seismically active region, making future earthquakes likely. The recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake highlights the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness measures in Myanmar, Thailand, and surrounding countries.
Geologists have also cautioned that aftershocks could follow in the coming days and weeks, potentially causing further damage. Authorities have advised residents to stay alert and prepare for possible evacuations if needed.
Conclusion
The devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday has left a trail of destruction across the region. With Bangkok declaring an emergency zone, one fatality, 50 injuries, and collapsed buildings, the impact of this quake is severe.
Myanmar, already suffering from civil war and economic turmoil, faces significant challenges in disaster recovery. As international aid organizations mobilize resources, the true scale of damage will become clearer in the coming days. Meanwhile, authorities in Thailand and China continue to assess the full impact of this powerful quake.
For ongoing updates on the Myanmar earthquake and relief efforts, stay tuned to breaking news coverage.
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