Massive Earthquake Devastates Myanmar and Thailand Many Feared Dead
A powerful earthquake struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, causing widespread destruction, including the collapse of buildings, bridges, and a monastery. At least 144 people were confirmed dead in Myanmar, while 10 fatalities were reported in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, confirmed that at least 144 people had died and 730 others were injured. In Thailand, authorities reported 10 deaths, 16 injuries, and 101 people missing, primarily from three construction sites, including a collapsed high-rise in Bangkok.
The earthquake, measured at a magnitude of 7.7, struck at midday with its epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. Several strong aftershocks followed, one reaching a magnitude of 6.4. In Mandalay, multiple buildings, including one of the city's largest monasteries, were brought down. Rescue crews in Naypyidaw worked to retrieve victims from the rubble of structures that housed civil servants.
Myanmar’s government reported a critical need for blood donations in the most affected areas. The United Nations allocated $5 million to support relief efforts, while Myanmar’s leadership expressed readiness to accept foreign assistance. However, concerns persist over the accessibility of rescue teams to certain areas due to damaged infrastructure, including buckled roads, a collapsed bridge, and a burst dam.
Mohammed Riyas, Myanmar director of the International Rescue Committee, expressed concern over the potential scale of devastation. Myanmar, located in an active earthquake zone, frequently experiences seismic activity, though significant earthquakes in heavily populated areas remain rare. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the death toll could exceed 1,000.
State media in Myanmar reported that five cities and towns experienced building collapses and two bridges fell, including one on a major highway from Mandalay. Photographs showed damage to hospitals, including an emergency department in the capital’s main 1,000-bed facility. Additional footage depicted the destruction of the historic Ma Soe Yane monastery in Mandalay, captured by monks who were filming the structure before it collapsed.
Christian Aid reported that a dam burst in one affected city, resulting in rising water levels in lowland areas. Residents of Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, rushed out of their homes as the quake struck. In Naypyidaw, homes were severely damaged, and rescue workers searched through debris for survivors. Some injured individuals were transported on wheeled stretchers, while others were tended to on sidewalks.
The disaster has compounded the suffering of Myanmar’s population, already struggling due to conflict and displacement. More than three million people have been displaced by the country’s ongoing civil war, and nearly 20 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations.
In Thailand, a 33-story building under construction collapsed near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market. Videos showed onlookers screaming and running as the structure crumbled into dust. Sirens sounded throughout the city, and emergency crews rushed to the site, where wreckage of steel and concrete formed a towering pile. Rescuers worked to extract survivors as injured individuals were transported on gurneys. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit described the situation as a tragedy but expressed hope that survivors remained trapped beneath the rubble.
The earthquake also disrupted Bangkok’s transportation network, causing the shutdown of the city's elevated rapid transit system and subway. While earthquakes are not uncommon in the region, those powerful enough to be felt in Bangkok are rare. The greater metropolitan area, home to over 17 million people, experienced significant shaking, prompting residents to evacuate high-rise buildings.
Individuals in Bangkok reported their experiences, with one lawyer describing how she and her colleagues fled down twelve flights of stairs after seeing lights swinging and hearing the building creak. Tourists in shopping malls described the moment the buildings began to sway, triggering panic among shoppers.
The U.S. Geological Survey and Germany’s GFZ center for geosciences classified the earthquake as shallow, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Shallow earthquakes typically cause more damage due to their proximity to the surface. The tremors were also felt in China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, causing injuries and structural damage in the border city of Ruili. Chinese media reports showed images of debris-strewn streets and individuals being transported to hospitals.
As emergency response efforts continue, authorities anticipate further casualties and damage assessments in the coming days. The full impact of the disaster remains uncertain, with many areas still unreachable due to the extent of the destruction.
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