A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and Thailand, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming over 700 lives. The 7.7-magnitude quake, the largest to hit Myanmar in over a century, caused widespread devastation, particularly in Mandalay.
A devastating earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck northwest of Sagaing, a city in central Myanmar , on Friday afternoon. The tremor, followed by a significant 6.7-magnitude aftershock, caused widespread destruction across Myanmar , particularly in Mandalay , the country's second-largest city. Buildings crumbled, bridges collapsed, and roads buckled under the force of the quake, which is considered the most powerful to hit Myanmar in over a century.
In Mandalay, at least 694 people have been confirmed dead, with nearly 1,700 injured, according to the ruling military junta. While communication is severely hampered in Myanmar, the death toll is expected to rise considerably as rescue efforts continue.The tremors, felt hundreds of kilometers away, also wreaked havoc in Bangkok, Thailand. A 30-storey skyscraper under construction collapsed, reducing it to a pile of rubble and twisted metal. Tragically, around 10 people were confirmed dead in Bangkok, with up to 100 workers still missing in the collapsed building. Rescue teams labored tirelessly through the night, searching amidst the debris for survivors. The collapse occurred near the bustling Chatuchak weekend market, a popular destination for tourists.Bangkok's governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, said authorities would be deploying over 100 engineers to inspect buildings for safety concerns following over 2,000 reports of structural damage. Thousands of residents were forced out of their homes due to safety concerns and sought refuge in city parks. The tremors, though infrequent in Bangkok, sent shockwaves through the city, prompting widespread panic. Rooftop swimming pools overflowed, and even hospitals were evacuated, with one woman delivering her baby outdoors. A remarkable act of resilience unfolded as a surgeon continued operating on a patient after being evacuated from the hospital, completing the procedure outside. The extent of the damage in Myanmar highlights the extreme vulnerability of its already fragile healthcare system, further strained by ongoing civil war
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