A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock, struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, resulting in at least 144 fatalities, toppling buildings, collapsing bridges, and damaging historic structures. The tremors were also felt in neighboring Thailand, where an under-construction high-rise collapsed, trapping over 117 people and killing eight.
Myanmar’s military government confirmed the 144 deaths, though authorities warned that the toll could rise as many areas remain inaccessible. The military junta has declared a state of emergency in several regions and requested immediate international assistance. However, the full scale of the destruction remains unclear, with social media images showing collapsed houses and cracked roads.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 17.2 km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, home to around 1.5 million people. In Thailand, at least eight people were killed, and dozens of workers were rescued from the debris of a collapsed skyscraper in Bangkok.
Around 117 people are still feared trapped, and a large-scale rescue operation is underway. Another person was killed in a separate incident in Thailand. Mild tremors were also felt in Kolkata, Imphal, and Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district, though no significant damage or casualties were reported in these areas.
PM Narendra Modi expressed concern over the devastating earthquake in both Myanmar and Thailand, offering India’s assistance to the affected nations.
