Witness accounts reveal the intensity of the tremors, as buildings crumbled and cries for help echoed amidst the disaster.
Residents Rally Together After Devastating Earthquake Strikes Myanmar and Thailand
Residents Rally Together After Devastating Earthquake Strikes Myanmar and Thailand
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake sent shockwaves throughout Myanmar and Thailand, leaving residents in a state of panic and horror.
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, unleashing chaos and destruction. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying experience, with one resident from Yangon recounting the intense shaking that lasted for about four minutes. “I woke up to my building shaking violently,” he said, emphasizing the widespread impact of the quake as he received messages from friends confirming similar experiences throughout the region.
The earthquake collapsed numerous buildings, including a 30-storey construction in Bangkok, trapping 43 workers beneath debris. Residents, fearing for their safety, dashed into the streets, while water from rooftop pools splashed down in panic.
Sirinya Nakuta, a mother of two, described the moment the earthquake hit, stating that she heard objects crashing down and immediately urged her children to evacuate. “I told my kids, we can’t stay here and we have to get out of here,” she detailed, describing the chaotic atmosphere as they fled their apartment.
Police Deputy Chief Worapat Sukthai recounted the heart-wrenching sound of people calling for help amid the rubble of the collapsed tower block, estimating that the number of injured could reach into the hundreds. Authorities in Myanmar have declared a "mass casualty area" at Nay Pyi Taw General Hospital, where patients were treated outdoors as the facility struggled to accommodate the influx of the injured.
In a rare move, Myanmar's military junta appealed for international assistance, declaring a state of emergency across six regions. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing was witnessed at the hospital, urging the global community to provide humanitarian aid quickly, as communication lines appeared severely impacted in the stroke-ridden country.
In Thailand, public transport services temporarily halted amid the fear following the tremors. Zsuzsanna Vari-Kovacs shared her experience of evacuating a restaurant amidst the quake, while Deborah Punmachet described a sudden, jarring movement that led to her chair overturning.
Reports from Mandalay revealed extensive damage, as images surfaced showing collapsed buildings and infrastructure, including parts of a historic royal palace and damaged roads. The US Geological Survey has issued a "red alert," predicting possible high casualties and extensive damage, as the full scope of the devastation remains unknown.
