Farmane-Ilahi

YANGON (Web Desk) A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Myanmar on Friday, causing significant damage and tremors felt as far as neighbouring Thailand.

The earthquake, which struck at around 12:50pm local time (06:20 GMT), had its epicentre near Mandalay, 50km east of Monywa, at a shallow depth of just 10km.

In Myanmar, buildings in cities such as Mandalay and Naypyidaw collapsed, with witnesses describing scenes of destruction. Several people were trapped inside collapsed buildings, and rescue efforts are ongoing.

A local officer from the Myanmar Fire Services Department confirmed that search operations had begun, though no immediate casualty figures were available.

In Thailand, the tremors caused panic, particularly in Bangkok, where residents fled high-rise buildings. A 30-storey construction site in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok collapsed, leaving at least one person dead and 50 others injured.

The Thai prime minister has declared an emergency in the capital and warned that more tremors could follow.

A 6.4 magnitude aftershock struck Myanmar shortly after the initial quake, intensifying the already tense situation. Governments across the region, including India, have expressed readiness to provide assistance.

Myanmar, already dealing with internal turmoil following a military coup, faces further challenges as it grapples with the aftermath of this devastating natural disaster.