Naypyitaw/Bangkok (Web Desk): A powerful earthquake struck Southeast Asia on Friday, wreaking havoc across Thailand and Myanmar.
The quake, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, hit at midday, causing severe damage and claiming several lives.
In Myanmar, the tremors led to the partial collapse of a mosque in Taungoo, where at least three people were killed.
Additionally, a hotel in Aung Ban collapsed, resulting in at least two fatalities and leaving 20 others trapped.
The earthquake also brought down buildings across five cities, including Mandalay, the country’s former royal capital, and caused extensive damage to key infrastructure, including bridges along the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway.
In response, Myanmar's military government declared a state of emergency in multiple regions and launched rescue and relief operations.
Social media shared distressing images of the destruction, including a collapsed clock tower in Mandalay and parts of the city’s palace wall reduced to rubble.
In Naypyitaw, the capital, a market's roof was severely damaged, and people fled buildings in panic in Myanmar's largest city, Yangon.
Meanwhile, Thailand also faced its own calamity. In Bangkok, at least three people lost their lives, and the collapse of a construction site skyscraper claimed the life of one worker, with many others rescued from beneath the rubble.
The tremors sent thousands into the streets, including hotel guests who rushed outside in bathrobes and swimming attire. A luxury hotel’s elevated pool burst, sending water cascading down as people scrambled for safety.
The quake's epicenter was located about 17 kilometers from Mandalay, and it was followed by a powerful aftershock, with additional moderate tremors shaking the region.
According to United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake had a depth of 10 kilometers, and while the immediate damage has been catastrophic, both countries are now focused on recovery efforts as they brace for potential aftershocks.
