A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake ripped through Myanmar and Thailand early Friday, killing dozens and triggering fears of catastrophic flooding and infrastructure collapse. Thousands more are feared dead in the Asia earthquake, as rescue crews scramble to pull survivors from crushed buildings and fallen bridges.
The quake struck near Mandalay at 1:20 p.m. local time, followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock. It shook major cities, brought down high-rises, and triggered mass evacuations in Myanmar, Thailand, and neighboring countries.
Hospitals Overwhelmed After Devastating Quake
At a major hospital in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, doctors declared the facility a mass casualty zone. Survivors arrived in waves—some covered in blood, others too injured to speak.
A hospital doctor said, “I’ve never seen anything like this. We are doing everything we can, but we’re exhausted.”
The quake collapsed religious sites, homes, bridges, and roads across central Myanmar. A 90-year-old bridge in Sagaing fell. Sections of a highway connecting Mandalay and Yangon split apart during the Asia earthquake.
Tens of Thousands May Be Dead
Professor Ian Main, a seismologist at the University of Edinburgh, warned the death toll could be staggering. Based on ground shaking and population density, he said fatalities may reach between 10,000 and 100,000.
The U.S. Geological Survey also issued a PAGER report forecasting extreme loss of life.
In Mandalay, a mosque collapsed during midday prayers, killing at least ten worshippers. Meanwhile, 20 children remain trapped in a destroyed school in Taungoo.
Asia earthquake: Bangkok High-Rise Crumbles in Front of Workers
In Thailand, chaos unfolded in Bangkok as a 30-story building under construction collapsed. Concrete and steel rained down as workers ran for their lives. At least three people died. More than 80 remain missing.
Dust clouds covered nearby streets. Locals fled as aftershocks rocked the city. Videos showed water cascading from rooftop pools onto panicked pedestrians below.
A Thai police official described the scene: “People were screaming for help. We have never seen destruction like this in our city.”
Panicked Residents Flee Towers and Malls
Residents across Bangkok rushed down stairwells and poured into the streets. Some still wore bathrobes or swimsuits, having fled rooftop pools mid-tremor.
Chelsea King, a British expat, said, “The buildings swayed. It was like a scene from a disaster film.” She rescued her cat before escaping down eight flights of stairs.
Tourist Kelly Rhodes described being evacuated from the 24th floor of her hotel. “We’re now stuck. Flights are canceled, traffic is frozen, and people are stranded.”
Public transit systems shut down. Benjasiri Park and other open spaces filled with shaken evacuees seeking shelter away from tall buildings during the Asia earthquake.
Buildings Crumble Across Myanmar
In Myanmar’s capital, homes and historic landmarks fell. Photos showed damage to Mandalay’s royal palace and temple walls. In Aung Ben, an eight-story hotel collapsed, killing at least two people and trapping 20.
Rescue workers dug through rubble with bare hands in some locations, lacking equipment due to the country’s ongoing civil war and fractured infrastructure.
In Naypyidaw, survivors lined hospital courtyards as doctors worked outside. Some victims lay motionless. Others cried out in pain while family members tried to comfort them.
Risk of Dam Collapse Raises New Alarm
The Red Cross issued an urgent warning. With critical infrastructure damaged, large dams could burst, unleashing deadly floods across low-lying regions.
Marie Manrique of the IFRC said, “Bridges are down. Roads are split. We’re watching the dams closely—any breach could be catastrophic.”
Officials declared emergencies in six regions. The junta issued a rare call for international aid. The World Health Organization mobilized trauma supplies from its Dubai hub.
Global Response Begins
EU President Ursula von der Leyen offered support, writing, “Heartbreaking scenes from Myanmar and Thailand. Europe is ready to help.”
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris called it a “huge event,” saying they were ready to send trauma kits and essential medicines. “This is a serious threat to life and health,” she said.
The UN and international NGOs are preparing to respond, though access to some regions remains limited due to Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict.
Tourists Caught in the Chaos
Tourist Fraser Morton was shopping for camera gear when the quake hit a Bangkok mall. “The building shook. People screamed. Some ran the wrong way down escalators.”
He later took refuge in a city park. “Dust and debris rained down. It was chaos.”
Mandy Tang, 38, was watching a movie when her theater began to shake. “I thought it was special effects. Then we were evacuated,” she told the PA news agency.
Myanmar’s History of Earthquakes
The region sits along the Sagaing Fault, a highly active seismic zone. Myanmar has experienced multiple quakes above 7.0 magnitude in the past century.
In 2016, a 6.8-magnitude quake killed three people in Bagan. But today’s event dwarfs that in both strength and impact.
Experts say urban growth, poor planning, and weak infrastructure have made cities like Mandalay dangerously vulnerable.
Outlook Grim as Rescue Efforts Continue
As of Friday evening, aftershocks continued. Aid groups warned that the death toll could rise sharply in the coming days.
With roads destroyed, bridges down, and communication lines cut, reaching the hardest-hit areas is proving difficult.
Still, rescue crews and volunteers press on, hoping to find survivors.
For now, the full scale of destruction remains unknown. But the Asia earthquake has already carved a dark chapter in regional history.
