Myanmar (a country in Southeast Asia) was hit today by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, which was felt in neighboring Thailand. The current death toll stands at at least 23 (20 in Myanmar, 3 in Thailand), with 200 people injured. This was followed by an aftershock 11 minutes later, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale.
The epicenter was located in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with over a million residents. Many buildings and bridges have collapsed across the country, including in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.
Myanmar lies in one of the most seismically active regions of the world. In 2011, the country was struck by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that resulted in 70 deaths.
In Bangkok, nearly 1,000 kilometers away from Mandalay, the streets were filled with people fearing aftershocks or unable to return to their homes, while traffic was nearly halted.
Details on the extent of the damage and casualties in many parts of Myanmar are still unavailable, according to the New York Times. Humanitarian teams are attempting to assess the situation, but are facing difficulties due to power outages and communication disruptions.
The earthquake was also felt in Bangladesh, including in the capital Dhaka, though no reports of damage have emerged so far, as well as in Vietnam and its capital Hanoi.
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