Catastrophic Earthquake Rocks Myanmar and Thailand: Eyewitness Accounts Emerge

As the dust settles from a powerful earthquake, eyewitnesses describe the panic and destruction felt across Myanmar and Thailand. Numerous buildings have collapsed, leaving a trail of casualties and prompting an urgent appeal for international aid.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, sending shockwaves felt as far as Thailand and China. Residents in both countries are sharing harrowing accounts of the disaster that toppled buildings and left communities reeling.

In Yangon, Myanmar's most populous city, a resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the tremors as "intense," lasting for approximately four minutes. The individual recounted waking from a nap amidst violent shaking and receiving alerts from friends that the quake impacted numerous areas across the nation.

The quake wreaked havoc across both Myanmar and Thailand, toppling buildings, including a 30-storey skyscraper in Bangkok, where dozens of workers remain trapped under the debris. Residents in Bangkok rushed into the streets, with some recalling water splashing from rooftop pools as the ground shook.

Sirinya Nakuta, a mother in her apartment, vividly recalled her experience: "I told my kids, we can't stay here and we have to get out of here." The urgency of her escape highlights the chaos that ensued as the earthquake struck.

In a grim report, Bang Sue district's deputy police chief, Worapat Sukthai, shared the haunting cries for help he heard from beneath the rubble. He indicated that hundreds of people might be injured, and the accurate casualty count is still being assessed.

As the extent of the destruction revealed itself, Myanmar's authorities declared a "mass casualty area" at Nay Pyi Taw General Hospital, where patients lay outside on gurneys, receiving makeshift care. Min Aung Hlaing, the military leader of Myanmar, made an unexpected appeal for international aid, urging the global community to provide humanitarian assistance as the country faces its state of emergency across six regions.

Meanwhile, access to information in Myanmar remains limited due to internet constraints, complicating communication with international aid organizations.

In Bangkok, panic spread among residents as public transport was suspended. Evacuee Zsuzsanna Vari-Kovacs described the chaotic moment of escape from a restaurant, while another witness, Deborah Punmachet, shared her startling experience of her chair flipping over during the quake.

Images circulating on social media from Mandalay, another major city in Myanmar, captured scenes of devastation, showing collapsed buildings and significant infrastructure damage, including a historic bridge and vital highways. The United States Geological Survey has issued a "red alert," estimating potential casualties in the thousands as recovery efforts begin.