Myanmar authorities have confirmed at least 144 deaths and more than 700 injuries after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday afternoon.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, toppling buildings, injuring hundreds, and causing tremors felt as far as Thailand and Vietnam. The quake struck near Sagaing City at around 1:20 PM Hanoi time, followed minutes later by a strong aftershock measuring 6.4, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Myanmar: State of Emergency Declared, Casualties Rising.
Myanmar’s military government has declared a state of emergency in six affected regions and issued a rare appeal for international humanitarian aid. Hundreds of casualties have been taken to hospitals, particularly in the capital Naypyidaw, where damage was so extensive that many patients had to be treated outdoors due to structural safety concerns.
President Min Aung Hlaing stated that 144 people had died and 732 were confirmed injured but warned that the death toll "is likely to rise."
A hospital official described the situation as a "mass casualty zone," as part of the emergency ward entrance collapsed onto a car. President Min Aung Hlaing was seen visiting survivors at a hospital in Naypyidaw, according to AFP reports.
At least three people were confirmed dead in Bago Region after a mosque partially collapsed during prayers. Meanwhile, reports from Mandalay described destroyed buildings, damaged bridges, and people fleeing into the streets in fear. The historic Ava Bridge was among the damaged infrastructures, and a 90-year-old bridge in Sagaing Region also collapsed.
Thailand: Skyscraper Collapse, Bangkok Declared Disaster Zone.
In neighboring Thailand, at least eight people were confirmed dead after a 30-story skyscraper under construction in northern Bangkok collapsed, trapping workers under the rubble. The Thai capital has been declared a disaster zone, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has placed emergency response teams on high alert.
The earthquake shook high-rise buildings across Bangkok, causing skyscrapers to sway, walls to crack, and water to spill out of rooftop pools. Viral videos online showed a building with a crane on top crumbling into a cloud of dust as onlookers screamed in panic.
Public transportation systems, including the subway, were temporarily shut down, and crowds rushed onto the streets. An office worker described doors and windows creaking as their building shook for more than two minutes. Despite the chaos, Bangkok’s airports remained operational, according to civil aviation authorities.
Vietnam: Tremors Felt from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
Although Vietnam reported no casualties, residents in major cities experienced clear tremors. People living in high-rise buildings across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City reported feeling furniture shaking, chandeliers swaying, and, in some cases, water splashing out of aquariums and rooftop pools.
Nguyen Quy, who lives on the 19th floor of a building in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi, described seeing trees on his balcony shaking for more than 10 seconds. In Ho Chi Minh City, office workers panicked and rushed down staircases as buildings swayed.
"I suddenly felt a light shaking around 1:30 PM," said Hoang Phung, an employee on the 23rd floor of a building in District 10. "People were worried and quickly evacuated."
Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Institute of Geophysics under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, said aftershocks were expected but that the earthquake had not caused significant damage in Vietnam.
International Support and Outlook.
India has offered "all possible assistance" to Myanmar and Thailand, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing prayers for all those affected.
The European Union and France also stated they were "ready" to provide support.
Myanmar sits along the Sagaing Fault, one of the country's most seismically active regions. According to USGS records, Myanmar has experienced several major earthquakes exceeding 7.0 magnitude in the 20th century.
Authorities across the region continue rescue efforts and damage assessments as aftershocks ripple throughout Southeast Asia.