The death toll from the massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand has surpassed 1,000, with more than 1,670 people injured. The quake, which hit northwest of Sagaing in central Myanmar on Friday, caused widespread destruction, toppling buildings, destroying bridges, and damaging roads.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night, searching for survivors trapped under the rubble, particularly in Mandalay, one of the worst-affected areas. The earthquake, the strongest to hit Myanmar in over a century, also caused structural damage in Bangkok, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter.
In Bangkok, a 30-story skyscraper collapsed within seconds, killing at least 10 people and leaving up to 100 workers unaccounted for. Authorities deployed over 100 engineers to assess building safety as more than 2,000 damage reports were filed. Some residents spent the night in city parks after their homes were deemed unsafe.
Myanmar has declared a state of emergency in the six worst-hit regions. With the country’s healthcare system already weakened by ongoing civil war, hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of injured victims. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has made a rare appeal for international aid. Meanwhile, global assistance is being offered by the US, India, France, and the European Union, while the WHO is mobilizing trauma injury supplies.
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