Earthquake toll: 3 killed, 90 missing in Bangkok, 20 dead in initial toll in Myanmar
Both Myanmar and Thailand have declared a state of emergency, after the devastating earthquake sent skyscrapers tumbling, injuring over thousands
At least three workers were killed when a 30-storey under-construction tower collapsed in Bangkok after a major earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday (March 28), the Thai deputy prime minister said.
Phumtham Wechayachai said 81 people were trapped in the rubble after the collapse, which followed the powerful 7.7 magnitude quake centred in Myanmar.
Both Myanmar and Thailand have declared a state of emergency, after the devastating earthquake sent skyscrapers tumbling, injuring over thousands.
The quake triggered the collapse of buildings hundreds of miles away in Thailand, where authorities declared an “emergency zone” in the capital Bangkok. Authorities are racing to rescue dozens of people believed to be trapped under the rubble of an under-construction high-rise in the city.
Thailand’s capital has been declared a disaster area following a strong earthquake in neighboring Myanmar, Bangkok city hall said, as per Reuters. The Bangkok governor has been placed in charge of coordinating the disaster response, it said.
20 killed in Mynamar
Meanwhile, Myanmar’s military junta has confirmed that the nation is facing multiple fatalities and injuries following Friday’s earthquake. Some reports said that 20 people have been killed in the earthquake.
About 20 people died after they arrived at our hospital so far. Many people were injured," said a doctor at the general hospital in Myanmar's capital city Naypyidaw
“Many civilians were killed and injured” by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit central Myanmar, according to Myanmar state media.
Myanmar’s ruling military on Friday declared a state of emergency in multiple regions after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck in the country, reported Reuters.
“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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that he is "concerned" by the situation in the wake of the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand.
"India stands ready to offer all possible assistance. In this regard, asked our authorities to be on standby. Also asked the MEA to remain in touch with the Governments of Myanmar and Thailand," he said in his post.
Earthquake near Mandalay
The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at 7.7 magnitude with a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).
It struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, where social media posts showed collapsed buildings and debris, though authorities have yet to confirm casualties. In Yangon, people fled buildings, while tremors were also felt in China’s Yunnan province. In downtown Bangkok, office towers swayed for minutes, prompting mass evacuations.
The greater Bangkok area is home to more than 17 million people, many of whom live in high-rise apartments.
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Alarms went off in buildings as the earthquake hit around 1.30 pm and startled residents were evacuated down staircases of high-rise condominiums and hotels in densely-populated central Bangkok.
They remained in the streets, seeking shade from the midday sun in the minutes after the quake.
The quake was forceful enough to send water sloshing out of pools, some high up in high-rises, as the tremor shook the buildings.
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The epicentre of the earthquake was in central Myanmar, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of the city of Monywa.
Myanmar, which is in the middle of a civil war, is now having to deal with the aftermath of a earthquake.
(With inputs from agencies)