A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake has jolted central Myanmar, with its epicenter located just 16km northwest of Sagaing at a shallow depth of 10km.
The intense tremors rippled across Thailand and reached as far as southwest China.
In Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, roads have buckled under the strain.
In Bangkok, where structures are not built to withstand seismic events, widespread damage has been reported.
A 30-story government skyscraper under construction in northern Bangkok collapsed, leaving 43 workers trapped beneath the debris.
… A strong earthquake rocked Myanmar, shaking buildings and triggering evacuations in neighboring Thailand and Vietnam, with a second temblor felt soon afterwards.
The quake measured 7.7 in magnitude, according to the USGS, which said it was 16 kilometers northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar at a depth of 10 kilometers. It struck at about 1:21 p.m. in Bangkok and was the strongest worldwide since 2023, according to USGS data compiled by Bloomberg. There was a second temblor of 6.4 magnitude around the same area, the USGS said.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has declared a national state of emergency in response.
Emergency meetings are in progress, and rescue operations are actively underway.
Source: BBC