In brief
Summary: A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar, causing significant damage and claiming at least 20 lives in Mandalay, while shaking was felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where additional fatalities were reported.
### A fierce earthquake registering 7.7 on the Richter scale rocked Mandalay, Myanmar, this afternoon, unleashing chaos across Southeast Asia. The quake struck at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time, causing catastrophic damage in the region, and leading to a rising death toll attributed to the disaster.As of the latest updates, medical staff at Mandalay General Hospital reported at least 20 fatalities following the quake, alongside approximately 200 injuries. Emergency services scrambled to treat the injured amidst fears of aftershocks. Eyewitness accounts highlighted the calamitous scene where many individuals, still attached to medical apparatus, were forced to flee to nearby parking lots as fires erupted in some facilities.In addition to the casualties in Mandalay, at least three people were confirmed dead in Bangkok, Thailand, where the earthquake’s tremors prompted the collapse of a new high-rise building under construction. The Thai government has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, advising residents to evacuate from taller structures to avert looming aftershocks.Videos circulating on social media illustrated the extent of the damage, including water cascading from rooftops of high-rise buildings in Bangkok and a captured scene of the Ava Bridge in Mandalay plunging into the Irrawaddy River post-earthquake. Witnesses described the atmosphere as a desperate scramble for safety ensued.In the aftermath, local agencies such as the Myanmar Red Cross are responding to the emerging crisis, although challenges hinder their access due to downed electricity and communication networks in affected areas.The quake's tremors were perceptible beyond Myanmar’s borders, with reports of shaking felt in southern China, Vietnam, and even as far as Bangladesh, highlighting the quake's far-reaching impact. As the affected regions mobilize their resources, the full scale of the destruction remains to be assessed amidst ongoing emergency response efforts.
