By The Sampadak Express
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread panic and destruction, with tremors reaching as far as China, Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of India. The earthquake, which struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, occurred 16 kilometers northwest of Myanmar’s Sagaing region, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The tremors were felt strongly in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, at approximately 1:21 PM local time, making it the strongest quake worldwide since 2023, according to Bloomberg.
While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, videos circulating on social media show significant destruction in Bangkok, including the collapse of an under-construction high-rise. Many other buildings in the city were also damaged. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos, with people fleeing buildings as alarms sounded and structures shook violently.
Fraser Morton, a Scottish tourist in one of Bangkok’s malls, described the terrifying experience: “The whole building began to move. Immediately, there was screaming and panic,” he told Reuters. “People were running the wrong way down the escalators, and there was a lot of banging and crashing inside the mall.”
In Bangkok’s Bang Sue district, Deputy Police Chief Worapat Sukthai shared troubling news with AFP, reporting that a 30-story under-construction tower had collapsed, trapping people inside. “I heard people calling for help,” he said. “We estimate that hundreds are injured, but the number of casualties is still unclear. I fear many lives have been lost. This earthquake has caused devastation like we’ve never experienced before.”
Tourists also shared their shock. Paul Vincent, a British tourist at a streetside bar, recalled the panic that ensued as people rushed onto the streets. “Everybody came onto the street, screaming and panicking, which made it worse,” he said. “I saw a high-rise building swaying, and water was falling from a rooftop pool. When I saw that, it really hit me. People were crying in the streets, and the panic was horrendous.”
As authorities continue to assess the situation, the full scope of the damage and loss of life remains uncertain, but the earthquake’s impact has been catastrophic for both Myanmar and Thailand.
