7.7 Earthquake Rocks Myanmar & Thailand

At 3:20 AM US EDT, a massive 7.7 earthquake struck the center of Myanmar (Burma) and radiated across Thailand and nearby islands. At the time of this writing, 6:30 AM US EDT, 33 are known dead, and that number is expected to rise dramatically. The military junta that’s ruled Myanmar since a coup in 2021 has declared a state of emergency in the regions of Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Easter Shan state, and Naypyidaw, according to local media reports.

People in the capital city of Naypyidaw were going about their business after the work day, preparing meals, helping children with homework, and trying to relax. No one had any thought about an earthquake. There was no warning of any kind. Ten years had passed since the last significant tremor hit the area.

Water spilled from the rooftop pool of a Naypyidaw highrise before the entire building crumbled. Ancient temples, made of hardened clay and stone, were reduced to rubble. Streets were torn apart with mass buckles and tears. Bridges collapsed, including one major artery in Mandalay.

Just 12 minutes after the first earthquake hit Myanmar, another one struck, according to the US Geological Survey. The second was a magnitude of 6.4. Additional shocks are expected to continue through the night, making search and rescue efforts all the more difficult.

Fifty people were inside a building near Chatuchak Park, which is hundreds of miles away from the earthquake’s epicentre in Myanmar. Initially, it was reported that forty-three construction workers were missing after the earthquake caused the unfinished 30-story building in Bangkok to collapse. That number has risen to 70, Thai authorities say.

Buildings in Bangkok aren’t usually designed to withstand earthquakes, so the damage could be significant. The Thai government is holding emergency meetings as we write.

Earthquakes are relatively more common in Myanmar, compared to Thailand. Between 1930 and 1956, there where six strong quakes of 7.0 magnitude near the Sagaing Fault, which runs through the centre of the country, AFP news agency reports, citing the USGS. Thailand is not an earthquake zone and nearly all earthquakes that are felt there, which are rare, are in neighbouring Myanmar.

The Red Cross reports that its teams are attempting to respond to “significant damage” in Myanmar but are facing challenges due to a lack of power in the affected areas. The humanitarian organization says electricity and network lines are down in the Mandalay and Sagaing areas. Despite this, the Red Cross says it’s continuing to gather information on “humanitarian needs” as a result of the damage.

With power out and roads largely impassable, it is difficult for rescue teams to find all the places where damage has occurred. The military junta controls access to the Internet, and that has been turned off. All across the affected area, people are running into the streets for fear that another aftershock could cause already damaged buildings to fall on top of them.

A member of a rescue team based in Mandalay tells the BBC, “The damage is enormous. The number of deaths is also quite high. That’s all we can say right now because the rescue efforts are ongoing.” they say. “The exact number of casualties is not yet known, but it is at least in the hundreds.”

Given the early hour, no official response or offers of assistance from Western governments have been noted. However, Reuters reports a fresh deployment of Chinese bombers over the South China Sea. With tensions already high in the region, China may look to intimidate aid agencies coming from the US or any other Western country.

Our thanks to the BBC for allowing us access to their live news feed.