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Key Details of the Disaster
- Epicenter: Near Mandalay, Myanmar, at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles) along the active Sagaing Fault .
- Casualties:
- Myanmar: At least 103 dead, over 300 injured, with mass casualties reported in Naypyidaw and Mandalay .
- Thailand 4 dead, including 3 construction workers in Bangkok, with 81 missing under the collapsed high-rise .
- Infrastructure Damage:
- Bangkok: A high-rise construction site collapsed in Chatuchak district, trapping workers in elevators and under debris .
- Myanmar: Ava Bridge destroyed, highways damaged, and hospitals overwhelmed with injured .
- Naypyidaw Airport’s control tower collapsed, killing five .
Panic and Evacuations Across the Region
Thailand: Bangkok’s skyscrapers swayed violently, forcing mass evacuations. The Stock Exchange of Thailand halted trading, and public transport was suspended .
- China, Bangladesh, India: Tremors felt in Yunnan, Kolkata, and Delhi, with injuries reported in Ruili, China .
- Social Media Chaos: Viral videos showed buildings crumbling, water sloshing from rooftop pools, and rescue workers digging through rubble .
Emergency Responses
- Myanmar’s military junta declared a state of emergency in six regions, including Sagaing and Mandalay, but rescue efforts are hampered by the ongoing civil war .
- Thailand’s PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared Bangkok a disaster zone, mobilizing emergency teams .
- International Aid:
- India’s PM Modi offered assistance, while the WHO prepared trauma supplies .
- The Red Cross warned of potential dam failures in Myanmar .
Why This Quake Was Devastating
Myanmar’s Sagaing Fault has a history of major quakes, but poor construction standards and urban crowding worsened the disaster. In Bangkok, experts suspect lax building regulations contributed to the high-rise collapse .
Ongoing Risks
Aftershocks continue, and rescue operations remain perilous due to unstable rubble. Authorities urge people to avoid damaged structures.
- China, Bangladesh, India: Tremors felt in Yunnan, Kolkata, and Delhi, with injuries reported in Ruili, China .
- Social Media Chaos: Viral videos showed buildings crumbling, water sloshing from rooftop pools, and rescue workers digging through rubble .
Emergency Responses
- Myanmar’s military junta declared a state of emergency in six regions, including Sagaing and Mandalay, but rescue efforts are hampered by the ongoing civil war .
- Thailand’s PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared Bangkok a disaster zone, mobilizing emergency teams .
- International Aid:
- India’s PM Modi offered assistance, while the WHO prepared trauma supplies .
- The Red Cross warned of potential dam failures in Myanmar .
Why This Quake Was Devastating
Myanmar’s Sagaing Fault has a history of major quakes, but poor construction standards and urban crowding worsened the disaster. In Bangkok, experts suspect lax building regulations contributed to the high-rise collapse .
Ongoing Risks
Aftershocks continue, and rescue operations remain perilous due to unstable rubble. Authorities urge people to avoid damaged structures.
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