Myanmar experienced a destructive 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday, which generated strong seismic activity that caused a catastrophic building collapse in Bangkok. The under-construction 30-story skyscraper serving as a government office building collapsed instantly during construction, which buried at least 43 workers under the rubble, according to Thai authorities.
The shallow earthquake occurred near Mandalay, Myanmar, during afternoon hours, which intensified its destructive power. A 6.4-magnitude aftershock struck the region minutes after the initial earthquake, which made the situation more dire. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates extensive fatalities will occur because thousands of homes in Myanmar collapsed and several buildings in Bangkok experienced major structural damage.
Emergency teams in Bangkok worked under pressure to save trapped survivors while Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra implemented emergency measures for the city. People experienced complete panic when the ground violently moved. Duangjai described her experience of running outside wearing her pajamas after feeling the earthquake tremors in Chiang Mai.
The destructive impact spread across the entire territory of Myanmar. The capital city of Naypyidaw experienced building collapses alongside road destruction and ceiling collapses. National Museum personnel were captured on video running away from the museum while showing signs of distress because of the substantial damage to the building. The Ava Bridge across the Irrawaddy River in Mandalay suffered destruction, which worsened rescue operations in the area.
The Bangkok metro system, alongside light rail services, had to stop operations due to safety issues with their infrastructure. The authorities issued warnings about upcoming aftershocks while instructing citizens to maintain their awareness. Seismic agencies operating in China’s Yunnan province recorded the earthquake magnitude at 7.9 during the tremors.
The location of Myanmar on the Sagaing Fault exposes the country to severe seismic activity. The combination of insufficient building codes and insufficient healthcare funding leads experts to predict a catastrophic long-term impact from this disaster. People in the region remain focused on rescue operations while facing the destructive consequences of this fatal earthquake.
