Many Feared Dead as Massive Earthquake Rocks Myanmar, Tremors Shake Thailand
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on Friday, leaving chaos in its wake. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the quake’s epicenter was just 16 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of Sagaing, striking at a depth of 10 kilometers around 12:50 PM local time (0620 GMT). And trust me, people felt it far and wide!
Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, took a serious hit. Roads twisted and cracked, and buildings lost chunks of their ceilings. Panic spread as people ran for safety, fearing aftershocks. If you think that’s wild, tremors didn’t stop there! They rippled all the way to China’s Yunnan province and even down to Bangkok, Thailand.
In Thailand’s buzzing capital, metro and light rail services hit pause. Imagine standing on a train platform and suddenly feeling the ground shake; it’s a nightmare that has come to life. In the northern tourist hotspot Chiang Mai, residents dashed out of their homes in panic. One local, Duangjai, described bolting out in their pajamas, not caring about anything but safety.
Now, earthquakes aren’t exactly new to Myanmar. The country sits on the Sagaing Fault, a notorious seismic hotspot. Between 1930 and 1956, six major earthquakes of 7.0 magnitude or more struck this region. More recently, in 2016, a 6.8-magnitude quake hit the ancient city of Bagan, damaging historic temples and tragically claiming lives.
Right now, the extent of damage and casualties is unclear, but with roads torn apart and buildings crumbling, the fear is real. Myanmar’s healthcare system, already struggling especially in rural areas, is bracing for an influx of injured people. Emergency teams are racing to assess the damage, and we can only hope the numbers don’t rise.
