Several killed as strong earthquake strikes central Myanmar, shakes buildings in Thailand

A powerful earthquake rocked Southeast Asia on Friday, killing several people, bringing down a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok and toppling buildings in neighbouring Myanmar, where the ruling junta declared a state of emergency in some areas.

At least three people were killed in the town of Taungoo in Myanmar when a mosque partially collapsed, witnesses said, while local media reported that at least two people died and 20 were injured after a hotel collapsed in Aung Ban.

In Thailand, at least one person was killed and dozens of workers were rescued from under the rubble of the skyscraper that had been under construction in Bangkok, Thailand’s National Institute of Emergency Medicine said.

In Bangkok, people ran out onto the streets in panic, many of them hotel guests in bathrobes and swimwear as water cascaded down from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel, witnesses said.

Bangkok’s city authorities declared the capital a disaster-stricken area, saying they needed to assess and monitor damaged areas, and assist people who might still be at risk.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake was of 7.7 magnitude and at a depth of 10 kilometres. It was followed by a powerful aftershock.

The epicentre was about 17.2 kilometres from the city of Mandalay, which has a population of about 1.5 million people.

‘The situation is very bad’

Myanmar’s military-run government has declared a state of emergency in multiple regions.

“The state will make inquiries on the situation quickly and conduct rescue operations along with providing humanitarian aid,” it said on the Telegram messaging app.

The junta seized power in a 2021 coup that led to a civil war and has been isolated internationally.

Mandalay is Myanmar’s ancient royal capital and at the centre of the country’s Buddhist heartland.

Social media posts showed collapsed buildings and debris strewn across streets in the city. Reuters could not immediately verify the posts.

One witness in the city told Reuters: “We all ran out of the house as everything started shaking. I witnessed a five-storey building collapse in front of my eyes. Everyone in my town is out on the road and no one dares to go back inside buildings.”

Another witness in the city, Htet Naing Oo, told Reuters that a tea shop had collapsed with several people trapped inside. “We couldn’t go in,” she said. “The situation is very bad.”

Two eyewitnesses from the town of Taungnoo in Myanmar’s Bago region told Reuters that at least three people have died after a mosque partially collapsed.

“We were saying prayers when the shaking started… Three died on the spot,” said one of the people who spoke to Reuters.

Building sways in Bangkok

A third witness said a mosque in the city was badly damaged.

Meanwhile, witnesses in Bangkok said one downtown office tower swayed from side to side for at least two minutes, with doors and windows creaking loudly.

Hundreds of employees filed out via emergency stairs as some shocked and panicked workers froze. Loud shrieks could be heard as the building continued to sway.

Outside, hundreds gathered in the afternoon sun, while staff with medical kits found office chairs for elderly and people in shock.

China’s Xinhua news agency said strong tremors were felt in southwestern Yunnan province which borders Myanmar, but there were no reports of casualties.