The quake results in fatalities, injuries, and widespread damage, leaving communities in turmoil as emergency responses begin.
**Devastating Earthquake Hits Myanmar and Thailand, Causing Chaos and Destruction**
**Devastating Earthquake Hits Myanmar and Thailand, Causing Chaos and Destruction**
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake wreaks havoc in Southeast Asia amid civil unrest in Myanmar.
A significant earthquake registering a magnitude of 7.7 struck near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, on Friday, inflicting extensive damage throughout Southeast Asia and resulting in at least 20 confirmed deaths in Myanmar alone. The tremor occurred just before 1 p.m. local time, promptly followed by a significant 6.4-magnitude aftershock merely 11 minutes later.
The quake's tremors were reported across a vast area, from southern China to Vietnam, and were felt as far as Bangkok, the bustling capital of Thailand, where a 30-story skyscraper still under construction tragically collapsed, claiming the lives of at least three individuals.
Initial reports coming from Myanmar, a nation already embroiled in a prolonged civil war, indicate that the full extent of casualties and structural damage remains unsettled. In Bangkok, panic ensued as residents fled buildings, resulting in severe traffic disruptions while videos captured dramatic instances of water gushing from rooftop pools of high-rise structures.
In Mandalay, victims who were in a nearby hospital evacuated to vacant parking areas as structural integrity concerns arose. Rescue operations have commenced in both Myanmar and Thailand, tackling collapsed infrastructure and managing the influx of injured individuals to local hospitals.
As communities scramble to respond to this disaster, the aftermath of the earthquake continues to unfold, highlighting the urgent need for support and attention to the affected regions.
