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Devastating Earthquake Hits Myanmar and Thailand
Residents in both Myanmar and Thailand are reeling from the impact of a significant 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday, causing widespread destruction and triggering intense fear among the population.
A local from Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, described the tremors as “quite intense” and lasting approximately four minutes. Speaking anonymously for safety concerns, he recounted how he awoke from a nap to a violent shaking of his building. “I was receiving messages from friends and realizing that it was not just in Yangon, but also many places across the country,” he said, illustrating the widespread effect of the quake.
The earthquake led to buildings collapsing throughout Myanmar, with Thailand also experiencing major impact. Reports indicate that in Bangkok, a 30-story skyscraper collapsed, trapping at least 43 workers beneath the debris. Residents were compelled to flee their buildings as the tremors rattled structures, and swimming pools erupted with splashed water.
Sirinya Nakuta, who was in her apartment with her children during the quake, described the terrifying experience: “It didn’t stop. I heard things falling down from upstairs like stones hitting on us. I told my kids, we can’t stay here and we have to get out of here. So we ran down.”
Worapat Sukthai, deputy police chief of Bang Sue district, reported hearing calls for help from those trapped under the collapse. He noted that, while many were injured, the total number of casualties had yet to be determined.
As the extent of the devastation became clearer, Myanmar’s officials declared a “mass casualty area” at Nay Pyi Taw General Hospital, where patients had to lie on gurneys outside with intravenous drips suspended from makeshift stands.
The military junta that governs Myanmar, which came to power following a coup in 2021, issued an uncommon request for international aid and established a state of emergency across six regions affected by the earthquake. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was seen visiting Nay Pyi Taw hospital, where he appealed for humanitarian assistance, urging the international community to act swiftly.
In Myanmar, accessing reliable information is a challenge due to restrictions on internet use. Communication lines are reportedly down, complicating efforts to connect with aid organizations on the ground.
In Bangkok, public transportation systems, including metro and rail services, were halted in the aftermath of the earthquake. Zsuzsanna Vari-Kovacs recounted her experience of evacuating a restaurant: “I was waiting for the bill and suddenly I started feeling the earth shake. At first, I thought it was just me, but then I saw everyone looking around. We ran outside immediately.”
Deborah Punmachet described her frightening experience when a tremor caused her chair to topple. “I was in my La-Z-Boy [a recliner] and all of a sudden it moved back and forth. Then it flipped over and I hit my head on a table,” she recounted. Others reported similar chaotic situations as people sought safety.
Bui Thu, a BBC journalist based in Bangkok, noted that it had been at least ten years since Thailand had experienced an earthquake of this magnitude.
In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, social media posts revealed extensive damage, including the collapse of sections of the historic royal palace and a crumbling 90-year-old bridge. Key transportation routes, such as the main highway linking Yangon to Mandalay, also suffered significant damage.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a “red alert,” cautioning that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable.” While the exact death toll remains uncertain, USGS estimates suggest it could reach into the thousands as the situation unfolds.
Source
www.bbc.com