A major 7.7 earthquake has rocked Mandalay, Myanmar, resulting in widespread destruction and death throughout the southeastern Asian country and causing 6 hours of chaos in Bangkok, Thailand.
All roads were jammed as everything got shut down and people rushed to get home. The mass transit systems were also shut down.
Bangkok reopened its airports in the meantime.
Longtime Bangkok resident Andrew J. Wood reported that the earthquake struck at 13:25 local time, shaking buildings across the city. Residents in high-rise condominiums experienced swaying furniture, shattered glass, and other minor structural damage.
Wood, who resides in The Winning Tower, a tall condominium complex, described the scene:
“As the earthquake hit, pictures and hanging lamps began to sway violently. Glasses fell and smashed, and ornamental glass lamps collided and cracked. Fortunately, the damage was minimal, and we evacuated immediately, knowing that aftershocks could follow. Walking down 22 stories, we joined around 150 people already gathered outside. While there was concern, the mood remained calm, with no signs of panic. Everyone was simply relieved to be out in the open.”
In Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, a skyscraper that was under construction collapsed as a result of the tremors on Friday, leading to the death of one worker and injuring 50 others, as reported by emergency services. Authorities have indicated that some people may still be trapped beneath the debris, although the precise number remains unclear.
The US Geological Survey reported that a 7.7-magnitude earthquake occurred northwest of Sagaing in central Myanmar at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. Shortly thereafter, a 6.4-magnitude aftershock was recorded in the same region.
Witnesses in Mandalay, Myanmar, reported that they observed multiple buildings collapsing due to the seismic activity.
There were also accounts of cracks forming in the roads and pieces of ceilings falling from various structures.
In Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, the tremors caused skyscrapers to sway, prompting both residents and visitors to flee outdoors in panic.
A 30-story building that was under construction in the Chatuchak Park area of the capital collapsed, with additional damage noted in other regions of the city.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has designated Bangkok as “an emergency zone” and has directed local authorities in other provinces to regard the earthquake as “a national emergency.”
The China Earthquake Administration (CEA) reported that tremors were also felt in the southwestern province of Yunnan, China.