WEBDESK: A Myanmar earthquake struck early Friday, sending tremors across the region and shaking buildings in neighbouring Thailand. The earthquake, recorded at 7.7 magnitude, was centred in central Myanmar near the eastern border, affecting cities such as Yangon, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai.
The 7.7-magnitude Myanmar earthquake hit northwest of the city of Sagaing on Friday afternoon at a shallow depth, the United States Geological Survey said. A 6.4 magnitude aftershock hit the same area minutes later.
In the Thai capital, a 30-storey building under construction collapsed, trapping 43 workers, police and medics said.
The massive building intended for government offices was reduced to a tangle of rubble and twisted metal in seconds, footage shared on social media showed. Emergency response teams are assessing the affected areas to determine the full impact of the quake.
“When I arrived to inspect the site, I heard people calling for help, saying help me,” Worapat Sukthai, deputy police chief of Bang Sue district, told AFP.
“We estimate that hundreds of people are injured but we are still determining the number of casualties,” he said.
Myanmar is located on tectonic fault lines, making earthquakes a common occurrence in the region. This latest Myanmar earthquake has once again raised concerns about building safety and preparedness for future seismic activities. Experts warn that aftershocks may follow in the coming days, urging residents to stay cautious.
The quake forced the suspension of some metro and light rail services in Bangkok, where Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency.
Earlier she said she had interrupted an official visit to the southern island of Phuket to hold an “urgent meeting” after the quake, according to a post on X. Tremors were also felt in China’s southwest Yunnan province, according to Beijing’s quake agency, which said the jolt measured 7.9 in magnitude.
However, Thai authorities confirmed that there was no immediate risk of major damage or tsunami threats.
Seismologists emphasize the importance of earthquake preparedness, especially in regions prone to such natural disasters. While the Myanmar earthquake did not cause significant destruction, it serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic events.
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