A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, sending shockwaves into Southeast Asia, leaving a trajectory of death and destruction.
Myanmar’s junta stated that 144 people were killed and 732 were injured. The death toll there is expected to rise, with many injured people reaching hospitals in Mandalay, the second largest city in the country.
The earthquake collapsed a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok, killing at least seven people and leaving dozens missing. It also shook Chinese buildings and rattled bridges and houses as far away as Vietnam.
Myanmar is in the midst of the civil war, leaving nearly 20 million people without proper food or shelter. Censorship imposed by military governments limits the spread of information from the center of disasters, despite the gradual clarity of the magnitude of damage in Thailand and other countries.
Where was the epicenter?
The earthquake occurred near Mandalay in the central region at about 12:50pm in the area, according to the US Geological Survey. About 12 minutes later, aftershocks, the size of 6.4, hit the same area.
Earthquakes of 7.7 size are considered to be the main ones. Aftershock sizes are classified as strong, particularly in areas with high population density, and are likely to cause damage.
Central Myanmar, where the large plates of the Earth’s crust move, is prone to powerful earthquakes. The country is located at the eastern end of Alpide Belt, one of the world’s most active zones of seismic activity. According to the USGS database, three earthquakes with magnitudes above 7.7 were attacked in or near Myanmar in the last century, according to the latest USGS database in 1988.
The earthquake on Friday hit a relatively shallow depth of six miles. This could have caused more violent shaking. The shaking felt as far away as Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, more than 800 miles from the epicenter.
Which countries were affected?
Despite limited information from Myanmar authorities, the earthquake was arguably the most destructive there. Mandalay, the largest major city near the epicenter, has a population of 1.5 million.
Nearby Thailand, especially in Bangkok, where around 11 million people live in metropolitan areas, I felt the power of the earthquake. Prime Minister Paetontan Sinawatra declared the city a “state of emergency” and asked residents to evacuate from the skyscrapers to avoid aftershocks.
In China, a news outlet in Yunnan province, adjacent to Myanmar, reported that it caused damage to buildings in Rurili’s busy border city.
The shaking was felt in Bangladesh in the west of Myanmar, but there were no immediate reports of damage.
What is the death toll? Also, what kind of damages have occurred?
The casualties are expected to rise as rescue workers dig up the tiles and injured people go to the hospital. Myanmar’s military government said 144 people were killed and 732 injured, but in a country isolated from most parts of the world it was difficult to assess the full range of casualties.
In Mandalay, footage tested by the New York Times shows that the AVA bridge, originally built by the UK, had partially collapsed in the 1930s. However, the intense censorship enforced by the military government in Myanmar made it difficult to see the full extent of the damage.
At least seven people have died in Thailand, and dozens have disappeared when the skyscrapers under construction collapsed in Bangkok. At least 20 people were trapped in elevator shafts, officials said, and it was unclear if they were still alive. The city’s elevated train service was closed and people fled the tall buildings after the city was placed in an emergency.
China’s state media reported that an unspecified number of people were injured and that homes and buildings were damaged in Ruli city.
What kind of assistance is there?
In Myanmar, the worst hit regions are at the heart of the country and are controlled by a military regime. When disasters hit the past, like Cyclone Mocha in 2023 and Cyclone Nargis in 2008, military governments avoided seeking international support and assistance in areas that are not under their control.
After a powerful earthquake on Friday, the junta filed a rare complaint for help. The plea shows that authorities are gaining high deaths.
Myanmar military spokesman General Zaw Minh Tung said after the government declared a state of emergency in six regions, “We will work with them to ensure that the victims are in the best possible care.”
The region of the country controlled by rebels is far from the epicenter of the earthquake. Although these regions appear relatively intact, information in these often isolated regions may appear slower.
The World Health Organization said it is considering sending trauma products to support Myanmar. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Associations said domestic teams are assessing the situation.
Reports were provided by Sui-Lee Wee, John Yoon, Keith Bradsher, John Keefe, Richard C. Paddock, Muktita Suhartono, Adam Satariano, and Paul Mozur.
