Myanmar Sees Majority of Over 140 Deaths in Southeast Asia Earthquake

A powerful earthquake, with its epicenter in Myanmar, devastated Southeast Asia on Friday, resulting in over 140 deaths in Myanmar alone, as reported by state media. The tremor caused widespread building collapses, including a tower under construction in Bangkok, Thailand, where rescuers searched for 117 missing and confirmed five fatalities. Mandalay, Myanmar, appears to have suffered the most significant damage.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake, which struck at lunchtime, was of 7.7 magnitude and at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). 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.

State-run MRTV said on the Telegram messaging app that at least 144 people had been killed in Myanmar and 732 injured.

“We all ran out of the house as everything started shaking,” a Mandalay resident told Reuters. “I witnessed a five-storey building collapse in front of my eyes. Everyone in my town is out on the road and no one dares to go back inside buildings.”

A rescue worker from the Moe Saydanar charity group told Reuters that it had retrieved at least 60 bodies from monasteries and buildings in Pyinmanar, near Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, and more people were trapped.

“This 60 is only from my charity group and only at Pyinmanar town,” he said.

Myanmar’s military junta is locked in a struggle to put down insurgents fighting its rule, a situation that is likely to complicate the rescue and relief operation.

Mandalay is Myanmar’s ancient royal capital and at the centre of the country’s Buddhist heartland.

Social media posts showed collapsed buildings and debris strewn across streets in the city. Reuters could not immediately verify the posts.

Local media outlet Myanmar Now posted images showing a clock tower had collapsed and part of the wall by Mandalay Palace was in ruins. A witness in the city, Htet Naing Oo, told Reuters that a tea shop had collapsed with several people trapped inside. “We couldn’t go in,” she said. “The situation is very bad.”

At least three people died after a mosque in Taungoo partially collapsed, two eyewitnesses told Reuters.

“We were saying prayers when the shaking started… Three died on the spot,” said one of two people who spoke to Reuters.

Local media reported a hotel in Aung Ban, in Shan state, crumbled into rubble, with one outlet, the Democratic Voice of Burma, reporting two people had died and 20 were trapped.

Video and images posted by Myanmar Now showed a roof cratered at a market in the capital, Naypyitaw. Witnesses contacted in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, said many people ran out of buildings.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended all trading activities for the Friday afternoon session.

One office tower in downtown Bangkok swayed from side to side for at least two minutes, with doors and windows creaking loudly, witnesses said.

Hundreds of employees filed out via emergency stairs as some shocked and panicked workers froze. Loud shrieks could be heard as the building continued to sway.

“At first, I didn’t realise (it was an earthquake),” office worker on Varunyou Armarttayakul told Reuters.”But then I saw the table shaking, and the chair and computer started swaying, too. I only knew for sure when I heard the noise of the cracking walls and cracking glass. Part of the ceiling even collapsed — that’s when I had to run out.”Outside, hundreds gathered in the afternoon sun, while staff with medical kits found office chairs for the elderly and people in shock.

China’s Xinhua news agency said strong tremors were felt in southwestern Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, but there were no reports of casualties.

Pakistan expressed deep grief over the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar, Thailand and neighboring countries.

“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this tragedy, and we are praying for all those affected as well as for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the foreign office spokesperson said in a press statement.

Pakistan also applauded the courageous individuals and emergency responders who were working diligently on the ground to deliver rescue and relief efforts. “Their bravery and commitment during this urgent time are truly admirable.”

“We express our solidarity with the governments and communities affected during this challenging period. May strength and resilience lead those impacted towards healing and recovery,” the statement added.