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On a fateful Friday, a catastrophic earthquake of 7.7 magnitude struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand, unleashing widespread destruction and claiming the lives of over 150 people. The earthquake's epicenter was located near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, and its impact reverberated across the region, causing buildings to crumble, bridges to collapse, and a monastery to be reduced to rubble. The devastation was particularly acute in Myanmar, where at least 144 people perished, and photos and videos from hard-hit cities painted a grim picture of extensive damage. In Thailand's capital, Bangkok, at least 10 lives were lost when a high-rise building under construction succumbed to the earthquake's force. The full scope of the tragedy, however, remained unclear, especially in Myanmar, a nation grappling with poverty, civil war, and stringent information control. The head of Myanmar's military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, grimly announced the devastating toll, stating that at least 144 people had been killed and 730 others injured in his country. In Thailand, authorities in Bangkok reported 10 fatalities, 16 injuries, and 101 missing individuals from three construction sites, including the collapsed high-rise. The earthquake, occurring at midday, triggered a series of aftershocks, one of which registered a formidable 6.4 magnitude, further compounding the devastation. Mandalay bore the brunt of the earthquake's fury, with numerous buildings collapsing, including one of the city's largest monasteries. Shocking images from Naypyidaw, the capital city, revealed rescue crews desperately extracting victims from the wreckage of buildings used to house civil servants. Amidst the chaos and destruction, Myanmar's government issued an urgent appeal for blood donations in the hardest-hit areas. In a departure from past practices, when prior governments were often hesitant to accept foreign aid, Min Aung Hlaing declared Myanmar's willingness to receive assistance. The United Nations promptly allocated $5 million to initiate relief efforts, but concerns loomed large about the challenges of reaching affected areas, given the country's existing humanitarian crisis. As Mohammed Riyas, the International Rescue Committee's Myanmar director, somberly noted, "We fear it may be weeks before we understand the full extent of destruction caused by this earthquake." The earthquake not only toppled buildings and bridges but also caused a dam to burst, exacerbating the flooding and displacement of already vulnerable communities. Myanmar's location within an active earthquake belt makes it susceptible to seismic activity, although many previous tremors have occurred in sparsely populated regions. The U.S. Geological Survey ominously estimated that the death toll could potentially exceed 1,000, highlighting the severity of the disaster. Myanmar's state newspaper, Global New Light of Myanmar, reported widespread building collapses in five cities and towns, along with the destruction of two bridges, including a vital one on a key highway connecting Mandalay. Disturbing images on the newspaper's website depicted the wreckage of a sign reading "EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT," which was identified as belonging to the capital's main 1,000-bed hospital. Online videos captured the heart-wrenching scene of robed monks in Mandalay filming the multistory Ma Soe Yane monastery as it suddenly crumbled to the ground. The fate of those within the monastery remained uncertain. The former royal palace also sustained damage, a poignant reminder of the earthquake's indiscriminate impact. Christian Aid reported that its partners on the ground confirmed a dam burst in the city, causing water levels to surge in lowland areas, further compounding the suffering of affected communities.
In Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, panicked residents fled their homes as the earthquake struck. In Naypyitaw, partially crumbled homes stood as grim reminders of the earthquake's power, while rescuers frantically cleared debris, searching for survivors. An injured man, lying on a wheeled stretcher, received comfort from another man who fanned him in the sweltering heat. Julie Mehigan, who oversees Christian Aid's work in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, emphasized the devastating impact of the earthquake on a population already struggling with numerous challenges. "Even before this heartbreaking earthquake, we know conflict and displacement has left countless people in real need," Mehigan stated, underscoring the compounding effect of the disaster on existing humanitarian crises. Myanmar's political landscape has been in turmoil since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, plunging the country into a bloody civil war with long-established militias and newly formed pro-democracy groups. The government's control over much of Myanmar has eroded, rendering many areas perilous or inaccessible to aid organizations. The United Nations estimates that more than 3 million people have been displaced by the fighting, and nearly 20 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. In Bangkok, Thailand, the collapse of a 33-story building under construction near the bustling Chatuchak market sent a plume of dust billowing into the air. Videos posted on social media captured the screams of onlookers as they fled in terror. Traffic ground to a halt on a nearby freeway as emergency sirens wailed across the city, signaling the arrival of rescuers at the scene of the devastation. Shredded steel and broken concrete blocks, piled high, formed a towering heap of debris. Injured individuals were swiftly transported away on gurneys, and hospital beds were set up on sidewalks to accommodate the influx of patients. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit described the event as "a great tragedy," expressing hope that survivors could still be found amidst the wreckage. The city's elevated rapid transit system and subway were temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure. While Bangkok is situated in an area prone to earthquakes, they are typically less powerful and rarely felt in the Thai capital. The greater metropolitan area is home to over 17 million people, many of whom reside in high-rise apartments, making them particularly vulnerable to the effects of earthquakes.
Voranoot Thirawat, a lawyer working in central Bangkok, recounted how she first noticed something amiss when she saw a light swinging back and forth. Then, she heard the building creaking, prompting her and her colleagues to evacuate down 12 flights of stairs. "In my lifetime, there was no earthquake like this in Bangkok," she exclaimed, highlighting the unusual intensity of the seismic event. Fraser Morton, a tourist from Scotland, was in one of Bangkok's numerous malls when the earthquake struck. "All of a sudden, the whole building began to move. Immediately, there was screaming and a lot of panic," he recalled, describing the chaotic scene as people fled down upward-moving escalators. Paul Vincent, a tourist from England, witnessed a high-rise building swaying, water cascading from a rooftop pool, and people weeping in the streets. The U.S. Geological Survey and Germany's GFZ center for geosciences reported that the earthquake originated at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to preliminary findings. Shallower earthquakes tend to inflict greater damage due to their proximity to the surface. The earthquake's tremors were also felt in China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, causing damage and injuries in the city of Ruili, which borders Myanmar, according to Chinese media reports. Videos purportedly shot by a resident in Ruili depicted building debris scattered across a street and a person being wheeled on a stretcher toward an ambulance. In Mangshi, a Chinese city approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Ruili, the shaking was so intense that people were unable to stand, according to one resident who spoke to The Paper, an online media outlet. The collaborative efforts of numerous individuals, including Adam Schreck, Haruka Naga, Jerry Harmer, Grant Peck, Penny Wang, Jamey Keaten, Ken Moritsugu, Edith M. Lederer, Farnoush Amiri, and Jennifer Peltz, contributed to this comprehensive report, highlighting the widespread impact and multifaceted consequences of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand.
Source: Powerful quake rocks Myanmar and Thailand and kills more than 150 people