Earthquake Kills Over 150 in Myanmar and Thailand/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar and Thailand, killing more than 150 people and toppling buildings, bridges, and a dam. Myanmar bore the brunt with at least 144 dead, while Bangkok saw fatalities after a high-rise collapsed. Rescue efforts face major obstacles in Myanmar’s conflict zones, and damage was also reported in China.
Massive Earthquake Kills More Than 150 in Myanmar and Thailand: Quick Looks
- 7.7 magnitude quake strikes near Mandalay, Myanmar
- Over 150 confirmed dead, including 144 in Myanmar
- High-rise building collapses in Bangkok, at least 8 killed
- Myanmar declares emergency in six regions after widespread destruction
- Bridge, monastery, and dam collapse in Mandalay area
- Bangkok’s transit system halts, buildings sway in panic
- Myanmar’s military government says hundreds injured
- Quake felt in China; injuries, structural damage reported in Ruili and Mangshi
- Humanitarian response hindered by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war
- Red Cross, Christian Aid warn of urgent need for aid
Earthquake Kills Over 150 in Myanmar and Thailand
Deep Look
A powerful earthquake shook Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, toppling structures, causing widespread panic, and leaving at least 152 people dead across both countries. The 7.7 magnitude quake struck midday near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock.
According to Myanmar’s military government, at least 144 people were killed and more than 730 injured. Thailand reported eight deaths, all in Bangkok, where a 33-story building under construction collapsed, sending clouds of dust through the capital.
Epicenter Near Mandalay, Tremors Felt Across Region
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) — shallow quakes tend to cause more severe surface damage. Photos and video emerging from Mandalay and the capital Naypyidaw showed buckled roads, collapsed buildings, and desperate rescue efforts.
In Sagaing, southwest of Mandalay, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and roads were damaged, cutting off access to remote regions. A dam failure in Mandalay caused water to flood surrounding lowlands, complicating rescue operations.
Myanmar’s Fragile Infrastructure Faces Collapse
Myanmar’s military ruler, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, acknowledged the disaster in a televised address:
“The death toll and injuries are expected to rise.”
In Naypyidaw, multiple government housing buildings were destroyed. Rescue workers pulled survivors from rubble, and the government issued an urgent call for blood donations.
The Ma Soe Yane Monastery, one of Mandalay’s largest, also collapsed. A widely shared video shows robed monks filming the structure moments before it crumbled to the ground.
Already reeling from civil war, Myanmar’s infrastructure and humanitarian response system are strained to the limit. Many areas are out of reach for aid groups, as pro-democracy and ethnic militias control territory the military can no longer access.
“Even before this heartbreaking earthquake, we know conflict and displacement had left countless people in real need,” said Julie Mehigan of Christian Aid, warning of a growing humanitarian crisis.
The Red Cross also reported major complications due to downed power lines and obstructed routes.
Bangkok Rattled as Skyscraper Collapses
In Thailand’s capital, a high-rise under construction near Chatuchak Market collapsed, killing at least three people and leaving 90 missing, according to Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with workers and bystanders fleeing as the crane-topped structure crumbled.
Sirens wailed across central Bangkok. Transit systems were halted, and traffic ground to a halt. Bangkok’s city hall declared the metro area — home to 17 million people — a disaster zone to coordinate emergency response.
“All of a sudden the whole building began to move,” said tourist Fraser Morton. “There was a lot of screaming and panic.”
Shaking Spreads to China
The quake was also felt in China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, especially in the border city of Ruili, where Chinese media reported injuries and structural damage.
One video shows debris-strewn streets and emergency workers wheeling a person toward an ambulance. In Mangshi, residents said the shaking was so intense that people “couldn’t stand.”
Myanmar Declares Regional State of Emergency
Myanmar’s government declared a state of emergency in six regions, including Mandalay and Naypyidaw. However, the entire country has technically been under emergency rule since the military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021.
More than 3 million people are already displaced due to the civil conflict, with nearly 20 million in need of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.
Survivors, Tourists Recall Chaos
Survivors and tourists in Bangkok and Mandalay recalled terrifying scenes.
“I thought I was dizzy,” said April Kanichawanakul, who fled her 10th-floor office in Bangkok.
“There were people crying in the streets,” added Paul Vincent, a British tourist. “The panic was horrendous.”
“In my lifetime, there was no earthquake like this in Bangkok,” said Voranoot Thirawat, a Thai lawyer.
The full scale of the disaster is still emerging, and authorities across the region are bracing for aftershocks and long-term disruption.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.