First deaths confirmed as massive earthquake hits Myanmar and Thailand

Photo: AFP

A powerful earthquake shook Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, turning a major hospital in Myanmar’s capital into a “mass casualty area” and causing a skyscraper to collapse in Thailand. The disaster has killed at least three people and left many trapped under rubble.

Earthquake Strikes Myanmar

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit northwest of Sagaing, a city in central Myanmar. It was followed by a strong aftershock measuring 6.4-magnitude. The powerful tremors caused massive damage, bringing down buildings, cracking roads, and even collapsing the famous Ava Bridge.

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The military government of Myanmar, which rarely seeks outside help, made a rare plea for international aid. The ruling junta declared a state of emergency in six regions hit hardest by the quake.

In the capital city of Naypyidaw, hundreds of injured people were rushed to the hospital. However, the hospital itself was damaged, forcing doctors to treat patients outside. The entrance of the emergency department collapsed on top of a car. A hospital worker asked reporters to leave, saying, “This is a mass casualty area.”

Doctors and hospital staff struggled to cope with the number of injured people. One exhausted doctor said, “I’ve never seen anything like this. We’re trying our best to handle the situation.”

Min Aung Hlaing, the country’s military leader, was seen arriving at the hospital. Meanwhile, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun urged the international community to send humanitarian aid quickly, signaling that the scale of the disaster might be larger than initially feared.

Myanmar’s healthcare system has already been weakened by four years of civil war, making it even harder to deal with such a large-scale crisis.

Skyscraper Collapses in Thailand

The quake also caused destruction in neighboring Thailand. In Bangkok, a 30-story building under construction collapsed. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed that at least three workers were killed, and 81 people were still trapped inside the rubble.

Rescue teams carefully searched through the wreckage of concrete and twisted metal, trying to find survivors. “I heard people calling for help, shouting ‘Help me!’” said Deputy Police Chief Worapat Sukthai. He estimated that hundreds of people were injured.

The quake also affected other parts of Thailand, including Chiang Mai, a popular tourist city in the north. Power briefly went out, and frightened residents rushed into the streets. “I quickly ran out of the shop with other customers,” said 76-year-old Sai, who was working at a minimart when the quake hit. “This is the strongest tremor I’ve ever felt in my life.”

Damage Across the Region

The impact of the earthquake was felt in several nearby countries, including China, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India. In China, emergency workers in orange uniforms were seen clearing debris in the border city of Ruili.

Videos posted on social media showed people fleeing from shops and markets as the ground shook. One clip showed water and debris pouring from the roof of a high-rise building in Ruili, while people ran for safety.

Earthquakes in the Region

Myanmar is no stranger to earthquakes. The Sagaing Fault, which runs from north to south through the country, has caused several strong quakes in the past. Between 1930 and 1956, six earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher struck near the fault line.

In 2016, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Bagan, Myanmar, killed three people and damaged many ancient temples and monuments.

The region now faces the difficult task of dealing with the aftermath of this latest disaster, with thousands of people in urgent need of aid and rescue efforts still underway.