Deadly Earthquakes Strike Myanmar And Thailand, Leaving Several Dead And Dozens Trapped

A series of powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 6.4 in magnitude, struck Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread destruction and casualties.

The tremors were felt in neighboring countries, including Thailand, where at least three people were killed in Bangkok after a high-rise under construction collapsed, trapping dozens.

The first quake struck near the city of Sagaing at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) around 12:50 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

In response, Myanmar’s ruling military declared a state of emergency in six regions, pledging to conduct rescue operations and provide humanitarian aid.

Hospitals in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, were overwhelmed, with one facility declaring a “mass casualty area.”

Dozens of injured people were being treated outside the 1,000-bed general hospital, some in severe pain while their families tried to comfort them.

In Taungnoo, a town in the Bago region, at least three people died when a mosque partially collapsed during prayers.

A witness described the moment, saying, “We were saying prayers when the shaking started … Three died on the spot.”

Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, who was in Naypyidaw at the time of the quake, reported feeling intense tremors that caused roofing and concrete panels to fall.

“I’ve been in earthquakes before, but I’ve never felt anything this strong,” he said, adding that aftershocks continued to rattle the area, heightening fears among residents.

In Mandalay, Myanmar’s ancient royal capital, social media footage showed collapsed buildings and debris scattered across the streets.

One witness, Htet Naing Oo, told Reuters that a tea shop had caved in, trapping several people inside.

“We couldn’t go in,” she said. “The situation is very bad.”

In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, a 30-story building under construction collapsed, killing at least three people and leaving 81 trapped under the rubble, according to Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency, and Bangkok city officials labeled the area a disaster zone.

Public transport in Bangkok came to a standstill as a precaution.

“People are out on the streets here. None of the trains are moving,” Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan reported from the city. “

“Traffic is absolutely gridlocked. The buildings have been shuttered in the centre of the city.”

Authorities expect urban rail services to resume on Saturday.

The tremors were also felt in parts of China, with damage reported in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.

In Ruili, a city bordering Myanmar, buildings were damaged, and injuries were reported.

Video footage showed debris on the streets and emergency crews transporting an injured person on a stretcher.

Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India also reported tremors but did not report significant damage.

Myanmar sits along the Sagaing Fault, which has experienced several major earthquakes in the past.

Between 1930 and 1956, at least six quakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher were recorded in the region.

In 2016, a 6.8-magnitude quake killed three people and caused significant damage to historic temples in Bagan.

Adding to the challenges, Myanmar is already grappling with a prolonged civil war. Al Jazeera’s Cheng noted that many people have fled rural conflict zones for cities, making urban areas overcrowded and vulnerable.

“A lot of the people have moved from the countryside into the cities to try and escape. That has meant it is densely overcrowded and the building standards are not particularly strong,” he explained.

Rescue efforts are now underway, with emergency teams working to locate survivors in the rubble and provide aid to the affected communities.

KanyiDaily recalls that Morocco was also rocked by one of the most powerful earthquakes in its history, resulting in a tragic toll of more than 1,000 lives lost and over 1,200 people sustaining injuries.