A strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, leaving widespread destruction and mass panic. The quake, which began in Sagaing at a depth of 10 kilometers, radiated into neighboring nations such as India, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.
Strongest Earthquake Since 2023
The epicenter of the earthquake, as per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), was 16 kilometers northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar. Bloomberg news said it was the most powerful earthquake in the world since 2023. The quake caused tremors in Bangkok, which prompted worried citizens and tourists alike to rush out into the streets as buildings creaked and swayed.
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Buildings Collapse, Panic in Bangkok Amid Earthquake
A 30-story Bangkok skyscraper still under construction collapsed in Bangkok, leaving individuals under the rubble. Social media captured the moment when theshocking event happened, while rescue teams ran to the site to help the survivors.
“I heard voices, they were screaming help me,” explained Worapat Sukthai, deputy chief of police of Bang Sue district in Bangkok. “We guess hundreds of people are injured but are still working on figuring out how many were killed.”
Witnesses recounted frightening scenes as buildings swayed violently. Scottish tourist Fraser Morton was in a shopping center when the earthquake hit.
“All of a sudden, the whole building began to move, immediately there was screaming and a lot of panic,” Morton said to Reuters. “People ran the wrong direction down escalators, and there was plenty of banging and crashing within the mall.”
Paul Vincent, a British tourist, explained the frenzied situation in Bangkok streets.
“The next thing, everyone came on the street, so there was lots of screaming and panicking,” Vincent said to AP. “When I saw the high-rise swaying and water coming from a rooftop pool, I knew how serious it was.”
Extent of Damage Yet to Be Assessed
Governments in Thailand and Myanmar have yet to assess the level of damage and casualties. While early signs point toward structural damage and panic, official casualty and fatality reports are yet to be confirmed.
Rescue operations are in progress, with emergency teams working to locate survivors. Since aftershocks continue to be reported, authorities have warned residents to be on the lookout.
