KEY POINTS
- Myanmar’s earthquake has killed 1,644 people and injured over 3,400
- The 7.7-magnitude quake and aftershocks flattened buildings and damaged bridges
- China pledged $13.8 million and sent a rescue team
- The US, EU, and South Korea also offered assistance
- In Thailand, 10 people died, and a 30-storey building collapsed
- USGS reported continued seismic activity, warning of further tremors
- WHO warns of a worsening crisis as medical services struggle
- Myanmar’s govt and USGS estimate that fatalities could surpass 10,000
YANGON/MANDALAY/BANGKOK: The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar and parts of Thailand has climbed to 1,644, with over 3,400 people injured, according to a statement from Myanmar’s government on Saturday.
The devastating 7.7-magnitude quake, which struck central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, was followed by a strong 6.7-magnitude aftershock, causing widespread destruction across the region.
The earthquake, which had its epicentre northwest of Sagaing, inflicted severe damage across the country, particularly in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city.
Entire buildings were flattened, roads were buckled, and critical infrastructure—including bridges and airports—was either damaged or destroyed.
In a statement, Myanmar’s government confirmed that at least 139 people remain missing. Mandalay, home to more than 1.7 million people, was one of the worst-affected cities, where Buddhist pagodas and monasteries crumbled.
The historic Mahamuni Buddha Temple was reduced to rubble, while the iconic Ava Bridge and the Mandalay Palace sustained significant damage, according to local media reports.
A soldier stationed near a ruined pagoda in Mandalay described the moment the tremors struck. “It started shaking, then it became serious,” he told AFP.
“The monastery also collapsed. One monk died, and some people were injured. We pulled out as many as we could and took them to hospital.”
Meanwhile, Mandalay Airport remains closed due to structural damage. “The ceiling collapsed, but no one was hurt,” an airport official told reporters while preventing media access to the facility.
Myanmar appeals for international aid
Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has appealed for international assistance on Friday, reflecting the severity of the disaster.
China has pledged 100 million yuan ($13.8 million) in humanitarian aid and has dispatched an 82-member rescue team to Myanmar.
According to China’s emergency management ministry, additional supplies will begin arriving on Monday.
The United States has also offered assistance, with President Donald Trump telling reporters at the White House, “It’s a real bad one, and we will be helping. We’ve already spoken with the country.”
South Korea has pledged $2 million in humanitarian relief, while the European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite system to aid first responders.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the situation as “heartbreaking” in a statement on social media.
Widespread impact in Thailand
The earthquake also caused destruction in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, where at least ten people have been confirmed dead, Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej told local media.
Most of the fatalities occurred when a 30-storey building under construction collapsed, trapping 43 workers.
Thai police reported that at least 117 people are still unaccounted for in the wreckage near Chatuchak market, a popular tourist destination.
Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, confirmed that the city has received over 2,000 reports of building damage, with more than 100 engineers deployed to assess safety risks.
“We are doing our best with the resources we have because every life matters,” Chadchart told AFP. He also stated that up to 400 residents spent the night outdoors in city parks due to fears of aftershocks.
The tremors sent shockwaves through the city, causing rooftop swimming pools to spill over the edges of high-rise buildings.
Hospitals were evacuated, with one woman delivering a baby outdoors after being moved from a damaged medical facility.
A surgeon reportedly completed an operation outside after evacuating his patient from an affected hospital.
Aftershocks and seismic activity
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a 5.1-magnitude aftershock near Naypyidaw on Saturday, while India’s National Centre for Seismology reported several smaller tremors ranging from 3.6 to 4.7 in magnitude.
Experts have attributed the earthquake to activity along the Sagaing Fault, one of Myanmar’s most active seismic zones.
The USGS noted that the region has experienced six earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater between 1930 and 1956.
Despite these scientific explanations, some astrologers have speculated that the quake coincided with a rare Saturn-Rahu conjunction, which they claim could trigger natural disasters.
Scientists, however, have dismissed such theories, reaffirming that the disaster was caused by geological movements.
Rescue and relief efforts continue
As rescue teams continue searching for survivors, the full scale of the devastation remains unknown. Myanmar’s government has warned that the death toll could climb significantly, with the USGS estimating that fatalities could exceed 10,000.
Meanwhile, Thai authorities are focusing their efforts on recovering victims trapped in the collapsed 33-storey building in Bangkok.
At least nine people have been confirmed dead in the incident, with 47 still believed to be trapped inside.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has activated its emergency management system and is coordinating medical assistance.
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris has warned that the earthquake poses a “very significant threat to life and health” in Myanmar, where millions were already facing hardship due to ongoing conflict and displacement.
With power, phone, and internet services down across large parts of Myanmar, relief operations are facing significant challenges.
France has evacuated its diplomatic premises in Bangkok, while Malaysia, Iran, and Indonesia have expressed readiness to provide additional support.
