BANGKOK— A devastating earthquake rocked Myanmar and Thailand on Frid
ay, causing widespread destruction. The quake toppled buildings, bridges, an
d a monastery, killing at least 144 people in Myanmar and 10 in Thailand, where a high-rise under construction collapsed in Bangkok.
The full impact remains uncertain, especially in Myanmar, a nation struggling with civil war and strict information control.
“The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” said Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, in a televised statement. He confirmed at least 144 deaths and 730 injuries in Myanmar alone.
In Thailand, authorities in Bangkok reported 10 fatalities, 16 injuries, and 101 missing individuals from three construction sites, including the collapsed high-rise.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck around midday, with its epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. A strong aftershock measuring 6.4 followed soon after.
Devastation in Myanmar
In Mandalay, multiple buildings, including a major monastery, crumbled. Photos from Naypyidaw, the capital, showed rescue teams pulling survivors from collapsed government housing blocks.
Myanmar’s government issued an urgent call for blood donations in the hardest-hit areas. Unlike previous disasters where aid acceptance was slow, Min Aung Hlaing stated that Myanmar is open to international assistance. The United Nations has allocated $5 million to kickstart relief efforts.
The country’s fragile infrastructure has hindered rescue operations. With reports of cracked highways, a collapsed bridge, and a burst dam, concerns grow over how aid workers can reach affected areas.
“We fear it may take weeks to assess the full scale of the destruction,” said Mohammed Riyas, Myanmar director of the International Rescue Committee.
Bridges, Monastery Collapse, and a Dam Burst
Myanmar sits in an earthquake-prone region, though most tremors occur in remote areas rather than densely populated cities like Mandalay. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the death toll could surpass 1,000.
State-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported that five towns experienced building collapses, and two key bridges fell, including one on a major highway. A published image showed the remains of a sign reading “EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.”
Videos shared online captured the dramatic collapse of the Ma Soe Yane monastery in Mandalay. The former royal palace also suffered structural damage. Christian Aid reported that a dam failure in Mandalay caused rising water levels in low-lying areas, worsening the crisis.
Residents in Yangon, the country’s largest city, ran into the streets as the quake struck. In Naypyidaw, damaged homes and piles of debris painted a grim picture. Rescuers worked tirelessly to clear rubble and rescue those trapped.
Myanmar, already facing severe hardship from conflict and displacement, now faces an additional catastrophe. “This disaster will have left people devastated,” said Julie Mehigan, who oversees Christian Aid’s operations in Asia, the Middle East,
and Europe.
The military government, which seized power in 2021, continues to battle resistance forces, leaving much of the country inaccessible to humanitarian aid. Over 3 million people have been displaced by ongoing fighting, and nearly 20 million require urgent assistance, according to the UN.
Catastrophe in Bangkok
In Thailand, the quake caused a 33-story building near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market to collapse, sending up a massive cloud of dust. Onlookers screamed and ran as the structure crumbled, while traffic on a nearby highway came to a standstill.
Emergency sirens echoed across the capital as rescue teams rushed to the wreckage. Twisted steel and concrete debris created a towering, unstable heap. Victims were quickly transported to hospitals, with some receiving emergency care on sidewalks outside medical facilities.
Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit visited the collapse site, calling it “a great tragedy” but expressing hope for survivors still trapped under the rubble.
The disaster also disrupted Bangkok’s elevated rapid transit system and subway services.
Although Thailand occasionally experiences earthquakes, they are rarely as powerful as this one. Bangkok, home to over 17 million people, has never witnessed such destruction from a seismic event.
Voranoot Thirawat, a lawyer in central Bangkok, described her experience: “I saw a light swinging, then I heard the building creak. We immediately ran down 12 flights of stairs.”
Tourists also felt the quake’s impact. Fraser Morton from Scotland was inside a shopping mall when everything began shaking. “People panicked, some ran down escalators going the wrong way,” he said.
Paul Vincent, a visitor from England, saw a high-rise sway, water spilling from a rooftop pool, and people crying in fear.
The U.S. Geological Survey and Germany’s GFZ center for geosciences reported that the earthquake originated just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) below the surface, making it exceptionally destructive.
Damage in China
The tremors were also felt in China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Reports from Ruili, a city near the Myanmar border, indicated structural damage and injuries. Videos showed debris scattered across streets and rescuers attending to the wounded.
In Mangshi, 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Ruili, the shaking was so intense that residents struggled to stay on their feet.
As Myanmar and Thailand begin recovery efforts, the full scope of devastation is still unfolding. The coming days will be critical in assessing the damage and mobilizing global relief efforts.