Buildings Collapse, Panic Spreads, and Aftershocks Rattle Southeast Asia
A catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Burma on Friday, sending powerful tremors across neighboring Thailand, collapsing buildings, and killing at least 154 people across both nations. The quake, one of the most powerful to hit the region in recent years, triggered chaos from Mandalay to Bangkok, leaving destruction, fear, and rising casualty counts in its wake.
Collapsing Skyscrapers in Bangkok
In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, dramatic video footage captured a 33-story high-rise under construction collapsing into a heap of concrete and steel. The building, topped with a construction crane, crumbled within seconds, creating a cloud of dust that blanketed city streets. Social media platforms quickly filled with viral clips of panicked residents running, screaming, and pointing at the collapsing structure.
Bangkok city authorities confirmed 10 deaths at three construction sites affected by the quake, with 16 injured and over 100 individuals still missing. The scene near Chatuchak Market, a bustling area popular among locals and tourists alike, turned into a rescue zone as emergency workers dug through debris searching for survivors.
Burma Suffers Heavy Casualties
Burma bore the brunt of the initial quake. According to a televised speech by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Burma’s military government, 144 people have been confirmed dead, and at least 730 others are injured. Entire communities were rocked by the quake’s epicenter, located in central Burma.
Extensive damage was reported in Mandalay, Burma’s second-largest city, where iconic landmarks such as parts of the former royal palace were damaged. In the Sagaing region, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and portions of the main highway connecting Mandalay to Yangon were severely compromised.
In Naypyitaw, the country’s capital, religious shrines were toppled, roofs crumbled, and debris littered the streets. Photographs of damaged pagodas have gone viral, showcasing the severity of the destruction in this historic city.
Aftershocks Continue to Shake the Region
Within hours of the initial earthquake, a 6.4 magnitude aftershock struck the region, further intensifying the panic. The tremors were felt as far as India and China, prompting evacuations in high-rise buildings across Southeast Asia.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the quake’s shallow depth of 6.2 miles, a key factor in the scale of destruction and widespread ground shaking. Residents in both countries were urged to stay outdoors as geologists warned of potential additional aftershocks in the coming days.
