The death toll is expected to rise after two powerful earthquakes hit Myanmar and Thailand on Friday afternoon. Horrific visuals of the earthquake are making the rounds on social media.
Dozens are feared dead, and several are stuck under the rubble of the building that collapsed following the earthquake. The ruling military of Myanmar has declared a state of emergency. According to the United States Geological Survey, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck at lunchtime at a depth of 10 km. The epicentre was about 17.2 km from the Myanmar city of Mandalay, which has a population of about 1.5 million.
The powerful earthquake was followed by a strong aftershock, and later on followed by moderate ones. The earthquake has caused devastation in Myanmar’s five cities and towns. It has also damaged a railway bridge and a road bridge, on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, state media said.
Shocking visuals show the collapse of the under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok. Several other buildings and bridges were toppled. Thailand’s defence minister said that three people were dead and ninety people are missing at the site of the under-construction skyscraper.
“We all ran out of the house as everything started shaking,” a resident in Mandalay told Reuters. “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.”
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“The state will make inquiries on the situation quickly and conduct rescue operations along with providing humanitarian aid,” it said on the Telegram messaging app.
Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing declared an ’emergency’ and appealed for international aid.
Whereas in Thailand, the situation has started to ease and people are being asked to return to their accommodations. “It is now safe for everyone to return to their accommodations,” Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said in a statement on Friday evening. “The buildings with issues are those under construction, where both structural integrity and wall stability are concerns.”
The government of Thailand has excluded the possibility of a Tsunami as the earthquake hit the inland. “We want to reassure the public that the aftershocks following this event will not pose a significant threat. Residents of high-rise buildings that sustained minor damage can safely return to their residences,” she said.