Photo by Mohammed Soufy
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Thailand and neighboring Myanmar around midday on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals in Bangkok and trapping many others when a high-rise construction site collapsed. This disaster prompted Myanmar to declare a widespread state of emergency.
The earthquake, which had its epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, was followed by a significant aftershock measuring 6.4 in magnitude.
In response to the crisis, Myanmar’s military-led government announced a state of emergency across six regions and states, including the capital Naypyitaw and Mandalay. However, due to the ongoing violent civil conflict in the country, the logistics of delivering aid to affected areas remain uncertain. The Red Cross reported that downed power lines are complicating efforts for their teams attempting to reach the Mandalay and Sagaing regions, as well as southern Shan state.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the earthquake has inflicted considerable damage, according to the Red Cross, which is still in the process of gathering information regarding humanitarian needs.
In Bangkok, a construction worker lost his life when debris from the collapsed site struck his vehicle, while another individual was killed by falling rubble, as reported by rescue worker Songwut Wangpon.
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed that three fatalities occurred at the construction site, with 90 individuals reported missing. He did not provide further details on the ongoing rescue operations, but first responders indicated that seven people had been rescued from the vicinity of the collapsed structure.
Rescue teams have expressed concerns that the debris remains too unstable to safely search for potential survivors trapped underneath.
A dramatic video capturing the collapse of the building near Bangkok’s well-known Chatuchak market circulated on social media, showing the multi-story structure, complete with a crane, toppling into a cloud of dust as onlookers screamed and fled the scene.In other areas of Bangkok, residents who evacuated their buildings were advised to remain outside in anticipation of possible aftershocks.
The US Geological Survey, along with Germany’s GFZ Center for Geosciences, reported that the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), based on initial assessments.
Panic ensued as buildings trembled, accompanied by the wailing of sirens throughout central Bangkok. The streets became congested with vehicles, exacerbating the already heavy traffic. Both the elevated rapid transit system and the subway were temporarily suspended.
In response to the situation, city officials designated the area as a disaster zone to streamline interagency assistance and emergency response. The greater Bangkok region, which houses over 17 million residents, includes numerous high-rise apartments.
April Kanichawanakul, an office worker in Bangkok’s central district, initially did not recognize the tremor as an earthquake, marking her first experience with such an event. “I thought I was just feeling dizzy,” she remarked.She and her colleagues evacuated from the tenth floor of Tonson Tower and waited outside for confirmation that it was safe to re-enter.
Suddenly, the entire building began to sway. “There was immediate screaming and widespread panic,” recounted Fraser Morton, a tourist from Scotland who was shopping for camera equipment in one of Bangkok’s many malls. “I started walking calmly at first, but then the building began to shake significantly, leading to a lot of screaming and chaos, with people running the wrong way down the escalators and loud crashes echoing inside the mall.”
Like Morton, thousands of individuals fled to Benjasiri Park from nearby shopping centers, high-rise buildings, and apartments along the bustling Sukhumvit Road.Many were on their phones attempting to contact family members, while others sought refuge from the sweltering afternoon heat. Some looked up anxiously at the towering structures in the densely populated area.
“I stepped outside and saw the entire building swaying, with dust and debris falling; it was quite intense,” Morton described. “There was a great deal of chaos.”
Bridge collapses in Myanmar; injuries reported in China
In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city located near the earthquake’s epicenter, damage was reported to parts of the former royal palace and various buildings, as evidenced by videos and images shared on Facebook.
Although the region is susceptible to seismic activity, it is typically sparsely populated, with most residences being low-rise structures. In the Sagaing region, situated just southwest of Mandalay, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and several sections of the highway linking Mandalay to Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, sustained damage.
Residents in Yangon evacuated their homes when the tremor occurred, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities.
In the capital, Naypyitaw, the earthquake caused damage to religious shrines, resulting in some parts collapsing, along with damage to several homes.
