Bangkok skyscraper collapses amid major earthquake in Thailand and Myanmar
A major earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, leaving buildings damaged, causing injuries, and trapping workers in Bangkok. The Thai government declared a state of emergency, with aftershocks affecting both countries.
A powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, causing widespread destruction and leaving hundreds in danger. A 7.7 magnitude tremor struck just northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock. In Thailand, the devastating quake caused a 30-story building under construction in Bangkok to collapse, trapping 43 workers. Emergency response teams rushed to the scene to provide aid as the Thai government declared a state of emergency.
The earthquake’s tremors were felt across both countries, with roads buckling, buildings damaged, and emergency services overwhelmed. Hospitals in Myanmar reported mass casualties, while residents in both nations fled their homes in panic. As rescue efforts continue, authorities are working to assess the full extent of the damage and casualties caused by one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in recent years.
The earthquake was felt in Myanmar and Thailand
A strong earthquake struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, causing significant damage, including the collapse of an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok, where dozens of workers were trapped. Thai Prime Minister declared a state of emergency in response to the disaster.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit just northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, at a shallow depth, followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock shortly after. In Bangkok, a 30-story building under construction collapsed, trapping 43 workers, according to police and emergency services. The building, which was intended for government offices, was destroyed in moments, as shown in footage shared on social media.
“When I arrived at the site, I heard people calling for help,” said Worapat Sukthai, deputy police chief of the Bang Sue district. "We estimate that hundreds of people have been injured, but we are still determining the exact number of casualties."
In Myanmar, AFP journalists were at the National Museum in Naypyidaw when the earthquake struck. The tremors caused pieces to fall from the ceiling, and panic ensued as staff rushed outside, some in tears, while others attempted to contact loved ones.
Roads were damaged by the quake, causing heavy traffic congestion near one of the city's largest hospitals, which became a "mass casualty area."
The 1,000-bed hospital had to treat patients outside in the street as they waited for medical attention. Many were connected to intravenous drips, and some lay motionless as relatives comforted them.
Earthquake damaged buildings in China, Thailand, and Myanmar
The tremors sent people fleeing into the streets across both countries. In northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai, locals reported feeling the strongest tremor they had ever experienced.
The quake caused some public transport services to halt in Bangkok, and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency. She cut short a visit to the southern island of Phuket to attend an urgent meeting in response to the quake.
The tremors were also felt in China's Yunnan province, with a 7.9 magnitude reported by Beijing's quake agency.
Myanmar has experienced several strong earthquakes over the years, particularly along the Sagaing Fault, and experts warn that the rapid urban development and poor infrastructure have left the country’s cities vulnerable to disasters like this.