A powerful earthquake struck Southeast Asia on Friday, causing significant damage in both Thailand and Myanmar. The quake, with a magnitude of 7.7, hit at lunchtime and originated at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Its epicenter was located around 17.2 km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. This earthquake caused a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok to collapse, leading to the death of at least one person and dozens of workers being rescued from the rubble.
In Bangkok, the earthquake caused panic, with people rushing into the streets in a state of distress. Many were hotel guests who had been caught off guard, some still in bathrobes or swimming costumes as water cascaded down from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel due to the tremor.
In Myanmar, the quake also impacted the city of Mandalay and other areas, although there was no immediate confirmation of casualties. Myanmar’s Fire Services Department has begun conducting checks in Yangon for casualties and damage, but no detailed reports have come out yet.
The earthquake was followed by a strong aftershock, adding to the devastation. At the time of reporting, the situation was still developing, and authorities in both countries were working to assess the full scale of the damage.