Powerful seismic activity struck Southeast Asia on Friday, causing widespread damage, including the collapse of a building in Thailand. The region was hit by two major earthquakes in quick succession, with the first registering a magnitude of 7.7, followed just 12 minutes later by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock. Both tremors were centered near Sagaing, Myanmar.
The effects of the quakes were felt across a vast area, with tremors reaching as far as Bangkok, Thailand, hundreds of miles away. In the Thai capital, the tremors caused the collapse of an unfinished 30-story building, trapping 43 construction workers inside. Only seven workers managed to escape, while the others remain buried under rubble. Local authorities have launched a large-scale rescue operation.
At least one person was reported dead, and dozens of workers were rescued from beneath the debris, according to Thailand’s National Institute of Emergency Medicine. Witnesses described scenes of chaos in Bangkok as people fled buildings in panic, including hotel guests in bathrobes and swimwear, as water poured from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the earthquake, which struck at lunchtime, had a magnitude of 7.7 and a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The epicenter was located about 17.2 km from Mandalay, Myanmar, a city with a population of around 1.5 million. A powerful aftershock followed soon after.
Myanmar authorities have not yet provided information on the full extent of the damage, though social media posts from Mandalay showed collapsed buildings and debris littering the streets. Reuters could not immediately verify the posts.
One witness in Mandalay described the moment the earthquake struck: “We all ran out of the house as everything started shaking. I saw a five-story building collapse right in front of me. Now everyone is out on the road, too scared to go back inside.”
Another witness reported the collapse of a tea shop, trapping several people inside. “We couldn’t go in,” she said. “The situation is very bad.”
Damage to a mosque in the city was also reported by a third witness.
In addition to Myanmar, strong tremors were felt in southwestern Yunnan province, China, which borders Myanmar, although no casualties have been reported there.
In Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, witnesses described people running out of buildings in fear. One office tower in central Bangkok swayed for at least two minutes, causing panic among office workers. Emergency evacuation procedures were quickly put in place, with hundreds of employees exiting via emergency stairs.
Amid the chaos, medical staff assisted the elderly and those in shock as they gathered outside in the hot afternoon sun.
The situation remains dire, with rescue operations underway in both Thailand and Myanmar to assess and address the damage caused by the seismic events.
