Key points
- The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.7 on the Richter Scale
- The tremors caused a skyscraper to collapse in Bangkok
- State of emergency declared in Myanmar, Thailand
- WHO readying medical supplies
- EU ready to help Myanmar, Thailand after devastating earthquake
BANGKOK: The death toll from a massive earthquake in Myanmar has passed 1,000, with more than 2,000 people injured as rescuers dig for survivors, according to the AFP.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake, which struck at lunchtime, was of 7.7 magnitude and at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). It was followed by a powerful aftershock.
The epicentre was about 17.2 km from the Myanmar city of Mandalay, which has a population of about 1.5 million.
Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay, Myanmar destroyed following the earthquake. Photo Shanghai DailyThe 7.7-magnitude quake caused widespread destruction across the war-torn country, and the death toll is expected to rise, ruler Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech aired on state media.
State of emergency
The historic Ava Bridge in Mandalay was reported to have collapsed during the earthquake, and the iconic Mandalay Palace also suffered damage.
According to a statement from the State Administration Council shared by state-run MRTV on its Telegram channel, the National Disaster Management Committee declared a state of emergency in the earthquake-affected areas of Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, northeastern Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, and Bago Region.
In Thailand, authorities declared Bangkok an “emergency zone” following the earthquake, as reported by Thai PBS News.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended trading due to the quake, according to the Thai Enquirer.
A major hospital in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, has also been reported to have received numerous casualties.
WHO readying medical supplies
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it had triggered its emergency management system in response to Friday’s “huge” earthquake in Myanmar and was mobilising its logistics hub in Dubai to prepare trauma injury supplies.
The UN health agency is coordinating its earthquake response from its Geneva headquarters “because we see this as a huge event” with “clearly a very, very big threat to life and health”, spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a media briefing.
“We’ve activated our logistics hub to look particularly for trauma supplies and things like external fixators because we expect that there will be many, many injuries that need to be dealt with,” Harris said.
“We are ready to move in — but now we have to know exactly where, what and why. It’s information from the ground that’s really critical right now,” said Harris.
Skyscraper collapse
The earthquake caused a skyscraper to collapse in Bangkok, trapping 81 people. At least three workers were killed when a 30-storey under-construction tower collapsed in Bangkok after a major earthquake on Friday, the Thai deputy Prime Minister said.
Phumtham Wechayachai said 81 people were trapped in the rubble after the collapse.
Meanwhile, a monastery and mosque in Myanmar were also destroyed, claiming numerous lives, with rescue operations underway.
EU support
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday the 27-nation bloc stood ready to help after a strong, deadly earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand.
“Heartbreaking scenes from Myanmar and Thailand after the devastating earthquake. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” von der Leyen wrote on X. “Europe’s Copernicus satellites are already helping first responders. We are ready to provide more support.”
France on Friday also said it stood ready to provide support after a powerful earthquake hit Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand, adding that its diplomatic premises in the Thai capital had been evacuated.
“We are ready to provide support as soon as the need has been expressed and we have evacuated our premises in Bangkok to guard against any form of risk,” said Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who was in Shanghai on Friday, referring to the French embassy, schools, and other buildings.
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.
