Where did the earthquake hit?According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake was centered roughly 17km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, at a depth of just 10km (6.2 miles), per The Independent.
The shallow depth intensified the shaking, causing widespread damage in both Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. A strong 6.4-magnitude aftershock followed shortly after.
What happened in Bangkok?In Bangkok, the quake’s impact was severe enough to prompt city officials to declare a state of emergency.
A high-rise building under construction near the popular Chatuchak Market collapsed during the tremors, sending a giant plume of dust into the air and causing panic on the streets.
Footage shared on social media captured the exact moment the structure gave way – onlookers screamed and ran as the building crumbled in seconds.
Nine people have been confirmed dead in the Bangkok collapse, including eight workers at the site. At least 117 individuals remain missing, according to city deputy governor Tavida Kamolvej.
Kevin Riley from Essex in the UK told the BBC he felt the earthquake while having lunch in Chiang Mai, hundreds of miles from the epicenter.
“I felt things moving, and I thought they were moving the tables,” he said. “I looked up, and everything was moving.”
He said the “lights were moving, things were swinging” and that “every time I thought it stopped there was another ripple of movement,” adding it lasted for “about two-and-a-half minutes”.
“When we got back to the hotel, some of the rendering had come off the front of the hotel,” he says. From his room, he could see the hotel’s swimming pool area was “in disarray”.
“The news of [the earthquake in] Myanmar is a disaster, but we are hundreds of miles away and felt its power,” Riley said.
Death toll and casualties in MyanmarMyanmar has suffered the greatest loss of life so far. The country’s ruling military junta confirmed that at least 144 people had died, and 737 others were injured.
During a televised address, General Min Aung Hlaing warned, “There will be more deaths and casualties” as emergency services continue to dig through the rubble. He has also called for “any country” willing to provide help to send aid and donations.
International routes have been opened to allow assistance into the country, and support has already been accepted from India and the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN.
Predicted impactA US government predictive analysis warns that the full extent of the disaster may be far worse than current figures suggest.
Based on the strength and depth of the earthquake, the report forecasts the potential for thousands of deaths and extensive economic damage, particularly in the Sagaing and Meiktila regions.
“Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist,” the analysis stated. “High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread.”
What’s next?Rescue efforts remain underway across both Myanmar and Thailand as emergency crews continue to search through the rubble for survivors following Friday’s catastrophic quake.
Aftershocks are still a major concern, with officials warning of potential further structural collapses as the region begins to reckon with the aftermath of one of the most powerful earthquakes in recent memory.
The Red Cross has raised alarms over the condition of critical infrastructure, particularly large-scale dams.
“Public infrastructure has been damaged including roads, bridges and public buildings. We currently have concerns for large scale dams that people are watching to see the conditions of them,” Marie Manrique, programme coordinator for the International Federation of the Red Cross, told reporters, per The Guardian.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has activated its emergency management system and is preparing to deploy medical resources in response to what it called a “huge” earthquake.
The organization confirmed that its logistics hub in Dubai is being mobilized to send trauma supplies to the affected areas.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
