Two consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.4 hit Myanmar on Friday, generating severe tremors in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, which caused the collapse of a high-rise and led the government to declare a state of emergency, suspending metro and rail operations. Intense aftershocks were likewise experienced in Meghalaya and various northeastern states, as well as in Bangladesh and the southwestern Yunnan province of China.
The earthquake’s effect was so severe that a skyscraper fell in Chatuchak district in Bangkok, approximately 900 km distant, resulting in the deaths of three workers. Many are still confined. The quakes drove individuals to flee their residences and caused water to splash out of pools in tall buildings.
In Myanmar, three individuals lost their lives when a mosque partially fell. The legendary 90-year-old Ava Bridge in Mandalay, Myanmar, also collapsed into the Irrawaddy River as a result of the powerful earthquake, with its epicenter located near Sagaing.
Social media updates depicted fallen structures, places of worship, and rubble scattered throughout the streets of Mandalay. Numerous roads also formed cracks in the capital Naypyidaw.
“I witnessed a five-storey building collapse in front of my eyes. Everyone in my town is out on the road and no one dares to go back inside buildings,” an eyewitness told Reuters.
In Bangkok, numerous structures were cleared out and shops shut down for the day. Nonetheless, there were no early reports of injuries in the Thai capital.
Bangkok implemented a lockdown as authorities shut down metro services, airports, and subways. The Thailand Stock Exchange has also halted all trading operations.
“I was sleeping in the house, and then I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building,” a resident of Thailand’s Chiang Mai told AFP.
