A powerful earthquake centred in Myanmar rocked Southeast Asia on Friday, killing more than 140 people in that country, according to state media, and toppling buildings across a wide area. The epicentre was about 17 km from Mandalay.
BANGKOK MARCH 28: A MASSIVE 7.7 magnitude earthquake has struck Myanmar and rocked Thailand with thousands feared dead. The United States Geological Survey said the quake, which struck at lunchtime, was of 7.7 magnitude and at a depth of 10 km. The epicentre was about 17 km from Mandalay. The city, with a population of about 1.5 million, is Myanmar’s ancient royal capital and the centre of its Buddhist heartland. Buildings, bridges and roads were wrecked, residents and local media said.
Rescuers are scrambling to find survivors after a high-rise building in Bangkok collapsed killing at least two workers and leaving dozens trapped under the rubble. According to reports, 81 workers are trapped in the riots.
News reports quoting sources in the Burmese city of Mandalay, close to the epicentre of the quake, indicate that hundreds have died. In neighbouring Thailand more than 80 construction workers are missing, according to the Thai deputy prime minister, with a search and rescue operation underway.
At least 144 people in Myanmar have been killed and 732 injured, the country’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, said, inviting “any country, any organization” to help with relief. The full extent of death, injury and destruction was not immediately clear in Myanmar. A predictive analysis by the United States government estimated the quake could result in thousands of deaths.
The Thai prime minister declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, while Myanmar declared an emergency in the capital and its second-largest city.
