Tremors felt across vast areas have resulted in collapsed structures and numerous injuries, spurring calls for international aid amid ongoing communication challenges.
Residents recount tragic scenes following intense Myanmar earthquake
Residents recount tragic scenes following intense Myanmar earthquake
Shock and devastation permeate Myanmar and Thailand after a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck, leading to a state of emergency.
The earthquake, which struck on Friday, unleashed widespread chaos across Myanmar and Thailand, leading to significant destruction and loss of life. In Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, residents felt the earth shake for almost four minutes, sending them into panic as they rushed into the streets seeking safety. One resident, who chose to remain anonymous, recalled how he awoke to the violent shaking, registering the severity of the event when friends reached out to confirm that it was more than a localized quake.
Reports indicate the tremors reached as far as China, causing a 30-storey building in Bangkok to collapse and trapping 43 workers under the rubble. Eyewitnesses portrayed scenes of fear; Sirinya Nakuta described the painful experience of hearing debris fall while trying to evacuate her apartment with her children. “We can’t stay here,” she urged her family, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
Emergency responders faced a daunting challenge as hundreds were injured in the collapse. This calamity prompted the military junta ruling Myanmar to appeal for international aid while declaring a state of emergency across six regions, with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing making an appearance at a local hospital where the overwhelmed medical staff struggled to care for the influx of patients.
"Please send humanitarian aid as soon as possible," he implored the international community, reflecting the dire circumstances. However, information from the chaos remained difficult to obtain due to stringent government controls and communication breakdowns.
In Bangkok, as metro and rail services ground to a halt, residents like Zsuzsanna Vari-Kovacs recounted their own experiences of the earthquake’s violence while dining in a restaurant. Similarly, Deborah Punmachet experienced a shocking jolt that toppled her recliner, illustrating the quake's reach into daily life.
In Mandalay, social media surfaced with harrowing imagery of damage, including parts of the historic royal palace and essential infrastructure falling apart. The United States Geological Survey has issued a dire prediction of high casualties, estimating that the death toll could range in the thousands as search and rescue operations continue amid the aftermath of this devastating event.
Reports indicate the tremors reached as far as China, causing a 30-storey building in Bangkok to collapse and trapping 43 workers under the rubble. Eyewitnesses portrayed scenes of fear; Sirinya Nakuta described the painful experience of hearing debris fall while trying to evacuate her apartment with her children. “We can’t stay here,” she urged her family, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
Emergency responders faced a daunting challenge as hundreds were injured in the collapse. This calamity prompted the military junta ruling Myanmar to appeal for international aid while declaring a state of emergency across six regions, with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing making an appearance at a local hospital where the overwhelmed medical staff struggled to care for the influx of patients.
"Please send humanitarian aid as soon as possible," he implored the international community, reflecting the dire circumstances. However, information from the chaos remained difficult to obtain due to stringent government controls and communication breakdowns.
In Bangkok, as metro and rail services ground to a halt, residents like Zsuzsanna Vari-Kovacs recounted their own experiences of the earthquake’s violence while dining in a restaurant. Similarly, Deborah Punmachet experienced a shocking jolt that toppled her recliner, illustrating the quake's reach into daily life.
In Mandalay, social media surfaced with harrowing imagery of damage, including parts of the historic royal palace and essential infrastructure falling apart. The United States Geological Survey has issued a dire prediction of high casualties, estimating that the death toll could range in the thousands as search and rescue operations continue amid the aftermath of this devastating event.
