Powerful earthquake strikes Myanmar, thousands may be trapped under rubble
A powerful earthquake struck Myanmar (Photo: Getty Images)
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, destroying entire city blocks. Local authorities have declared a state of emergency, Sky News reports.
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Magnitude of earthquake
The earthquake occurred today, March 28, around noon local time, approximately 20 km northeast of Mandalay, a city with a population of about 1.2 million people.
As a result of the tremors, a kilometer-long bridge and entire city blocks were destroyed. At least three people died after a mosque partially collapsed. Eyewitnesses are widely reporting building collapses.
The US Geological Survey stated that thousands of people in Myanmar could die due to the earthquake. In scale, it is nearly as devastating as the destructive earthquake that struck Türkiye in 2023.
Search and rescue operations are currently underway in Myanmar.
The aftermath of the earthquake (photo: Getty Images)
Consequences for neighboring Bangkok
In Bangkok, the capital of Thailand located hundreds of kilometers from the earthquake in Myanmar, the main shopping center collapsed, and people were evacuated. Local authorities have declared the city a "disaster area."
The Thai government warned that tremors could occur within the next 24 hours and urged people to stay as far away from tall buildings as possible and to use stairs instead of elevators. The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended trading due to the earthquake.
Earthquake location in Myanmar (screenshot)
According to a Scottish tourist inside the Bangkok shopping mall, the earthquake triggered mass panic. People ran out into Benjasiri Park, which was considered a safe zone.
"The building started moving... lots of screaming, lots of panic, people running the wrong way on escalators, lots of banging and crashing inside the mall," an eyewitness described the events.
According to emergency services, at least two people died as a result of the building collapse in Bangkok. At the same time, there is no confirmed data on how many more people may still be trapped under the rubble.
Reports also revealed that tremors from the earthquake were felt in Bangladesh, India, Laos, and China.
Earlier, on March 25, a powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck near the South Island of New Zealand. More than 4,700 people felt the tremors.
Read also about the March 21 earthquake in Iran near the city of Isfahan, which occurred close to a nuclear facility engaged in uranium enrichment.
