KEY POINTS
- A 7.7-magnitude quake struck Myanmar and Thailand
- Over 1,000 people have been killed and more than 2,000 injured
- Myanmar declared a state of emergency in several regions
- At least 10 killed in Bangkok, with a 30-storey building collapsed trapping over 100 workers
- The international community pledged financial and logistical support for relief efforts
- Myanmar experienced a 5.1-magnitude aftershock
- Thousands are feared still trapped and the death toll expected to rise
BANGKOK, Thailand: More than 1,000 people have been killed and over 2,000 injured after a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand, prompting large-scale rescue operations.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located 17.2 kilometres from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city.
The earthquake, which struck around midday, caused widespread destruction across the country, with the death toll expected to rise further, Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech broadcast on state media.
Widespread destruction and state of emergency
The Mahamuni Buddha Temple, a revered site in Mandalay, was destroyed, while the historic Ava Bridge and the Mandalay Palace sustained significant damage, according to local media reports.
The State Administration Council declared a state of emergency in the hardest-hit regions, including Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, northeastern Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw, and Bago.
Neighbouring Thailand also felt the tremors, leading to a declaration of Bangkok as an “emergency zone” by Thai authorities, as reported by Thai PBS News.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand temporarily suspended trading due to the earthquake, according to the Thai Enquirer.
A major hospital in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, has been overwhelmed with casualties, while power, phone, and internet services remain down across vast areas, further complicating relief efforts.
Casualties in Thailand
The earthquake caused significant destruction in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, where at least ten people have been confirmed dead, Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej told local media.
Eight of the victims died when a 30-storey under-construction building collapsed, trapping 43 workers, with 117 still reported missing, according to Thai police and rescue teams.
Bangkok city’s public transport system was completely shut down after the tremor resulting in traffic gridlock and widespread building closures.
International relief efforts underway
The World Health Organization (WHO) has activated its emergency management system and is mobilising trauma injury supplies from its Dubai logistics hub.
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said the organisation is coordinating its response from Geneva, warning that the earthquake poses a “very significant threat to life and health.”
China has dispatched an 82-person rescue team and pledged 100 million yuan ($13.8 million) in humanitarian aid, with initial shipments set to begin on Monday, according to China’s emergency management ministry.
A separate Chinese team from Yunnan province arrived in Myanmar’s commercial hub, Yangon, on Saturday, as reported by CCTV.
US President Donald Trump expressed his country’s willingness to assist Myanmar, stating, “It’s a real bad one, and we will be helping. We’ve already spoken with the country,” in remarks from the White House.
South Korea pledged $2 million in humanitarian assistance, while the European Union activated its Copernicus satellite system to aid first responders.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X, “Heartbreaking scenes from Myanmar and Thailand… We are ready to provide more support.”
Aftershocks and continued seismic activity
On Saturday, Myanmar experienced further tremors, with the USGS recording a 5.1-magnitude aftershock near Nay Pyi Taw.
India’s National Centre for Seismology reported multiple minor quakes, with magnitudes ranging from 3.6 to 4.7. Authorities are assessing whether these aftershocks have caused additional damage.
Myanmar’s military-led government warned that the death toll is likely to increase as rescue teams continue to recover bodies from the rubble. On Friday, the USGS projected that fatalities could rise to 10,000.
Meanwhile, Thai authorities are engaged in extensive rescue efforts at the collapsed 33-storey building in Bangkok, where at least nine people have died, and 47, including Myanmar workers, remain trapped.
Geological and astrological explanations
Seismologists have attributed the disaster to tectonic activity along the Sagaing Fault, which has historically triggered several high-magnitude earthquakes in Myanmar.
The USGS notes that six strong quakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater occurred in the region between 1930 and 1956.
However, the timing of the earthquake has also sparked speculation among astrologers, who cite the impending Saturn-Rahu conjunction as a possible cosmic influence on seismic activity.
Some astrologers believe that this alignment, lasting for 51 days from 29 March, could result in natural disturbances, including earthquakes and floods.
While scientists dismiss such theories in favour of geological explanations, the coincidence has drawn attention from both scientific and astrological communities.
Rescue operations
As emergency responders continue their efforts, international support is expected to grow.
France has evacuated its diplomatic premises in Bangkok as a precautionary measure, while Iran, Malaysia, and Indonesia have expressed readiness to provide further assistance.
With thousands injured and infrastructure severely damaged, the full extent of the disaster remains unclear.
