BANGKOK, Thailand (Diya TV) — A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on Friday, leaving widespread destruction and at least 144 dead, with hundreds injured, state media reported. The effects of the quake were felt throughout Southeast Asia, with neighboring Thailand recording nine fatalities, mostly due to a building collapse in Bangkok.
The epicenter of the quake was Mandalay, Myanmar, where houses, bridges, and roads were in ruins. The Ava Bridge on the Irrawaddy River also collapsed, and sections of the Mandalay Palace wall were in rubble, Reuters witnesses reported. Junta leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing called for a state of emergency in several states and asked for foreign aid.
Rescue personnel in Myanmar had to contend with destroyed infrastructure and continued civil disturbance. The Moe Saydanar charity group said it had recovered 60 bodies in Pyinmanar outside Naypyidaw. The opposition National Unity Government called for international support, citing a humanitarian crisis.
In Bangkok, a 30-story building under construction close to Chatuchak Park collapsed, killing eight and leaving over 100 missing. The elevated transit system and subway were closed as aftershocks shook the city. Emergency crews with drones and rescue dogs combed through the wreckage for survivors.
The United States Geological Survey also reported a 6.4-magnitude aftershock within minutes of the main quake. Panic erupted in cities as residents evacuated buildings, and Bangkok proclaimed the city a disaster zone.
The World Health Organization activated emergency response systems, and Amnesty International cautioned that the persistent conflict in Myanmar could make relief efforts more difficult. The U.N. added the country was already suffering from widespread hunger and displacement.
Myanmar has a history of earthquake activity because it lies at the boundaries of tectonic plates. The U.S. government estimated that thousands may be impacted by losses in the economy.
