A powerful earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, causing significant destruction. The tremor led to multiple fatalities and extensive damage, while emergency teams in Bangkok searched for 81 individuals trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building.
In Myanmar, at least three people lost their lives when a mosque partially collapsed in the town of Taungoo, according to eyewitnesses. Additionally, local reports indicated that two people died and 20 others were injured after a hotel crumbled in Aung Ban.
In Thailand, authorities confirmed that rescuers were working to locate 81 people buried under the wreckage of a high-rise that collapsed during construction.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt reported three fatalities at the site and urged residents to remain calm despite the risk of aftershocks, emphasizing that the situation was under control.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.7, with a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The epicenter was located approximately 17 kilometers from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with a population of about 1.5 million. The initial quake was followed by a major aftershock and several smaller tremors.
“Everything started shaking, and we ran outside immediately,” a Mandalay resident told Reuters. “I saw a five-story building collapse before my eyes. People are too afraid to go back indoors.”
Buildings collapsed in at least five towns and cities across Myanmar, and significant infrastructure damage was reported, including the destruction of a railway bridge and a road bridge on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway.
The earthquake adds pressure to Myanmar’s ruling military junta, already struggling with an ongoing civil war against armed resistance groups.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in several regions but provided limited details on casualties and damage. The military vowed to assess the situation swiftly and initiate rescue efforts while providing humanitarian aid.
The Red Cross highlighted concerns over damaged roads, bridges, and buildings, particularly the structural integrity of major dams in the affected regions.
Mandalay, known as Myanmar’s ancient royal capital and a key Buddhist cultural center, suffered widespread destruction. Social media posts depicted collapsed buildings and streets littered with debris.
Myanmar Now shared images of a fallen clock tower and a damaged section of Mandalay Palace’s outer wall. Local witnesses described scenes of devastation, with one resident stating, “A tea shop collapsed with people still inside. We couldn’t reach them. It’s a terrible situation.”
The military-run MRTV reported that the quake crushed vehicles and left deep cracks in roads across the capital, Naypyitaw. In Taungoo, survivors recalled the terrifying moment their mosque collapsed mid-prayer, killing three worshippers instantly. Meanwhile, reports from Shan State described a hotel reduced to rubble, trapping at least 20 people inside.
The earthquake could not have come at a worse time for Myanmar, according to Amnesty International’s Joe Freeman. With over three million people already displaced due to conflict and widespread food insecurity, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Additionally, international aid restrictions have further complicated relief efforts.
Since the military seized power in 2021 by overthrowing the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country has faced economic turmoil and deteriorating basic services, including healthcare. Armed resistance groups have taken control of several border areas, pushing the military into Myanmar’s central regions.
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Natural disasters have exacerbated Myanmar’s struggles in recent years. Cyclone Mocha in 2023 and Typhoon Yagi the year before had already placed immense strain on the junta’s ability to respond effectively to crises.
In Thailand, the quake sparked panic in the capital, Bangkok, where residents fled buildings. Witnesses reported seeing water cascading from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel, while the Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended trading for the afternoon session. Several office buildings swayed for minutes, with workers describing how walls and glass panels cracked.
“At first, I thought it was just a small tremor,” said Varunyou Armarttayakul, an office worker in Bangkok. “Then my desk and chair started moving, and I heard the sound of cracking walls. When part of the ceiling collapsed, I ran outside.”
In neighboring China, strong tremors were felt in Yunnan province, which shares a border with Myanmar. However, Chinese authorities reported no casualties in the region.
Rescue operations are ongoing in both Myanmar and Thailand as authorities work to assess the full extent of the earthquake.