A powerful earthquake has struck Myanmar. Officials say at least 150 people have been killed and hundreds injured. However, the US government estimates that the death toll could be in the thousands, based on the strength and depth of the quake. Myanmar’s military junta has declared a state of emergency and asked for international help. The quake was also felt in Thailand, where at least nine people have been killed and more than a hundred are missing.
A 7.7-magnitude tremor, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock – residents of one of the world’s poorest countries know what it feels like. Witnesses say the devastating quake toppled many residential buildings, as well as a hotel, bridge and kindergartens in Sagaing and Mandalay, where a mosque also collapsed during morning prayers.
While dramatic footage is circulating on social media, there are still no initial estimates of the number of victims and the extent of the damage, as the military junta, which has been in power since a 2021 coup, tightly controls almost all media, and internet use is limited.
“We will only soon learn the extent of the damage, but we can assume that the consequences will be quite large. And this will be especially difficult for people who are already in a vulnerable position due to the long-term crisis in the country,” said Marie Manrique, coordinator of the International Federation of the Red Cross in Myanmar.
The epicenter of the earthquake was at a depth of 10 kilometers and 16 kilometers northwest of the city of Sagaing. According to an analysis by the US Geological Survey based on the strength and depth of the earthquake, thousands of people may have been killed.
“When there is a strong ground tremor near where people live, there can be damage to buildings and deaths,” said William Yeck, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey.
The US government estimates that a large number of casualties and extensive damage are likely, as is the extent of the disaster. The Myanmar junta has issued an international appeal for help and declared a state of emergency in six regions. The junta’s leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, said in a televised address that he had opened channels for international aid and had accepted assistance from India and the Southeast Asian bloc, known as ASEAN.
“Our team there is already in contact to fully mobilize resources in the region to help the people of Myanmar. Other countries have also been affected, but the epicenter is in Myanmar, which is the most vulnerable country in the current situation,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The earthquake was felt in northern and central Thailand, especially in Bangkok, where rescuers are searching for dozens of people missing after a tower under construction collapsed.
In addition to Thailand, the quake was also felt in China. The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that strong tremors were felt in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, which borders Myanmar, where these footage comes from – when water from a pool on top of a building swept away passersby on a promenade.
