Building collapses as powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand

A 7.7-magnitude tremor hit northwest of the city of Sagaing on Friday afternoon, followed 11 minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock. The initial quake struck at a shallow depth of just 10km according to the United States Geological Survey.More than 20 people are dead and dozens are trapped under rubble after powerful earthquakes rocked central Myanmar on Friday, buckling roads in the capital Naypyidaw, damaging buildings and forcing people to flee into the streets in neighbouring Thailand.

A 7.7-magnitude tremor hit northwest of the city of Sagaing on Friday afternoon, followed 11 minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock. The initial quake struck at a shallow depth of just 10km according to the United States Geological Survey.

Skyscraper collapses

A 30-storey skyscraper that was under construction in Bangkok’s Chatuchak market collapsed, with tradesmen seen fleeing for cover in footage uploaded to X by numerous people.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters at least three workers had been killed, with 81 more trapped inside as of 9.30pm AEDT. Seven people have been pulled from the rubble and rescue efforts are still underway.

A nationwide response has been announced by police in Thailand and officers are evacuating people from unstable buildings.

The Thai capital has been declared a disaster zone and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is currently on business in Phuket, is cutting short her trip to return to Bangkok.

At least three other people have been confirmed dead in other parts of Bangkok.

Public buildings, roads and bridges have been damaged throughout the city, and the integrity of some dams are being monitored with fears they may collapse.

20 dead in Myanmar

The epicentre of the quake was 17km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, where at least 20 people are believed to have been killed.

Buildings in five cities and towns, including a hospital in the capital Naypyidaw, have been damaged according to the country’s state media.

A state of emergency has been declared in a number of regions and a junta spokesperson told AFP, “We want the international community to give humanitarian aid as soon as possible.”

The quakes were felt as far afield as China, India and Vietnam.

“I heard it and I was sleeping in the house, I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building,” Duangjai, a resident of the popular northern Thailand tourist city Chiang Mai, told AFP.

According to AFP, chunks of ceilings fell from buildings and roads buckled in Myanmar capital Naypyidaw, a sprawling, purpose-built city with highways up to 20 lanes wide.

A team of AFP journalists were at the National Museum in Naypyidaw when the earthquake struck and the building began shaking.

Pieces fell from the ceiling and walls cracked as uniformed staff ran outside, some of them trembling and tearful, others grabbing cellphones to try to contact loved ones.

The ground vibrated violently for around half a minute before settling.

There were no immediate reports of casualties after the quakes but they caused panic in nearby cities in northern Thailand and down to capital Bangkok.

Sai, a 76-year-old Chiang Mai resident, was working at a minimart when the shop started the shake.

“I quickly rushed out of the shop along with other customers,” he said.

“This is the strongest tremor I’ve experienced in my life.”

The quake damaged Bangkok buildings and forced the city to suspend some metro and light rail services.

According to a post on X, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she had interrupted an official visit to the southern island of Phuket to hold an “urgent meeting” after the quake.

Tremors were also felt in China’s southwest Yunnan province, according to Beijing’s quake agency, which said the jolt measured 7.9 in magnitude.

Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, where six strong quakes of 7.0 magnitude or more struck between 1930 and 1956 near the Sagaing Fault, which runs north to south through the centre of the country, according to the USGS.

A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake in the ancient capital Bagan in central Myanmar killed three people in 2016, also toppling spires and crumbling temple walls at the tourist destination.

– With AFP