AMN / WEB DESK
At least 144 people have died, and 732 have so far been injured, following a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand this afternoon. The head of Myanmar’s military government, Min Aung Hlaing, in a televised speech this evening, said that 96 people have died in Nay Pyi Taw, 18 in Sagaing, and 30 in Mandalay.
He said 132 of these were in Nay Pyi Taw and 300 were in Sagaing, with numbers still being assessed in other areas. General Min Aung Hlaing said the death toll and injuries are expected to rise. Myanmar’s government said blood was in high demand in the hardest-hit areas. The quake damaged historical sites in Mandalay and collapsed a 90-year-old bridge in Sagaing. In the meantime, the Red Cross reported major damage and power outages, making rescue efforts difficult.
In Thailand, at least three people were killed in Bangkok, causing a high-rise building under construction to collapse.
According to media reports, Defence Minister of Thailand Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai said three people were killed at the site where a high-rise under construction collapsed in a quake and 90 are missing in Bangkok. So far, seven people have been rescued, but unstable rubble is slowing rescue efforts. The earthquake caused widespread fear in Bangkok as buildings swayed. People evacuated offices, malls, and apartments. The city’s transit system shut down, and roads were jammed. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention said the quake was felt in almost all regions of the country. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an emergency meeting to assess the impact of the quake.
The quake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with more than a million people, around 12.50pm local time, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. An aftershock of magnitude 6.4 was recorded about 11 minutes later.
The quake of 7.7 magnitude rocked Mandalay in Myanmar at 1.20pm. It was followed by at least six tremors about two hours later, including a small earthquake of 3.3 magnitude in Pai district in Mae Hong Son province at 2.49pm.
The epicentre of the quake in Myanmar was 326 kilometres northwest of Pang Ma Pha district in Mae Hong Son province and about 1,100km from Bangkok, according to the Meteorological Department.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is calling for calm from the public as officials warn of possible aftershocks after an earthquake in Myanmar shook many parts of the country, including Bangkok, on Friday.
Speaking after an urgent meeting in Phuket, where she had been attending a tourism conference, Ms Paetongtarn called on people to keep themselves updated with information from all relevant agencies only to avoid misinformation and panic.
The state-owned broadcaster NBT has has been designated as the network for official verified updates, she added.
No tsunami warning
The public was advised to remain on alert for aftershocks. “The aftershocks may not be powerful but they can cause damage,” said Pichit Sombatmak, director-general of the Mineral Resources Department.
Mr Pichit dismissed the possibility of a tsunami as the quake occurred far from the sea.
But Phuket governor Sophon Suvannarat instructed officials to closely monitor the situation to ease worry for residents and tourists on the resort island.