A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Burma and Thailand on Friday, causing significant building collapses as residents fled for safety.
The earthquake was felt across nearly every region of Thailand, and aftershocks were reported in India and China. The full extent of injuries and potential fatalities remains uncertain.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the aftershock measured 6.4 in magnitude. Residents in Bangkok were advised to evacuate their buildings and remain outside in preparation for further quakes.
A dramatic video emerged on social media showing a multi-story building in Bangkok collapsing into a cloud of dust, as onlookers screamed and ran for safety.
Emergency services responded to the scene near Bangkok’s bustling Chatuchak Market, but they had no immediate information on the number of workers present at the time of the collapse.
AMERICA’S MOST EXPENSIVE NATURAL DISASTERS IN RECENT DECADES
The USGS and Germany’s GFZ center for geosciences reported that the earthquake was shallow, originating from a depth of 6.2 miles, with its epicenter in Myanmar.
During the quake, water from rooftop pools in Bangkok surged over the edges, and debris fell from various buildings.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened an emergency meeting to evaluate the earthquake’s impact.
Greater Bangkok is home to over 17 million residents, many of whom reside in high-rise apartments.
As alarms sounded in buildings around 1:30 p.m., startled residents evacuated down stairways of high-rise condominiums and hotels in the densely populated central area of Bangkok.
After the quake, many remained in the streets, seeking shade from the midday sun.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention confirmed that the quake was felt in nearly all regions of the country.
The epicenter was located in central Burma, approximately 30 miles east of the city of Monywa.
In the capital, Naypyitaw, the quake damaged religious shrines, causing parts to topple and affecting some homes.
“We are conducting searches in Yangon to assess for casualties and damage. Currently, we have no further information,” a Burmese fire official stated to Reuters.
Meanwhile, rescue teams are forming to search for survivors, with dozens reported missing, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.
Initial reports of damage from Burma have not been available, as the country has been experiencing ongoing civil unrest.
On the Chinese side of the border, reports indicate that 188 individuals have been injured in Tibet, as per the official Xinhua News Agency.
