Islamabad, March 28: A powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, causing multiple buildings to collapse in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, according to eyewitnesses.
The tremors were strong enough to be felt in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to the south.
The quake led to widespread panic, prompting hundreds of people to flee buildings in fear. The sudden disruption also forced a temporary halt in trading on the stock exchange.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake measured 7.7 in magnitude and had a depth of 10 kilometers. A significant aftershock followed soon after the initial tremor.
The epicenter was recorded around 17.2 kilometers from Mandalay, a city home to approximately 1.5 million residents. However, there was no immediate confirmation from Myanmar’s authorities regarding the extent of damage or casualties.
A Myanmar Fire Services Department official told Reuters, “We have begun search operations and are assessing damages in Yangon. At this moment, we do not have any confirmed reports on casualties or the scale of destruction.”
Mandalay Social Media Posts
Social media posts originating from Mandalay depicted images of collapsed buildings and debris scattered across roads. Reuters, however, was unable to verify the authenticity of these images immediately.
One resident in Mandalay shared their firsthand experience, stating, “We rushed out of our house as the shaking intensified. I personally saw a five-story building collapse before my eyes. No one in the town dares to re-enter buildings.”
Another local witness, Htet Naing Oo, reported a tragic incident at a tea shop, saying, “A tea shop collapsed with people trapped inside. We were unable to enter the rubble to assist them.”
Read More: Powerful Tibet Earthquake Near Nepal Kills 120+ | Latest News
Adding to the destruction, a third resident mentioned that a mosque in the city had suffered significant structural damage.
China’s Xinhua news agency reported that strong tremors were felt in southwestern Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar. However, no casualties were reported in China.
In Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, people evacuated buildings, fearing further damage.
Witnesses in Bangkok described chaotic scenes as people fled into the streets, many of them hotel guests still dressed in bathrobes and swimwear.
One skyscraper in downtown Bangkok swayed intensely for at least two minutes, with doors and windows making loud creaking sounds.
Panic spread among occupants as the building continued to tremble.
Employees were seen evacuating via emergency staircases, while some individuals froze in fear.
Read Also: Earthquake Hits Islamabad; North Pakistan
Outside, hundreds gathered under the hot sun, with some needing medical assistance due to shock. Office chairs were arranged to help elderly evacuees and others in distress.
This earthquake follows a 6.7-magnitude tremor in New Zealand’s South Island, indicating heightened seismic activity in the region.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, while emergency responders work to assess damage and assist affected residents.
