A catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay in Myanmar, causing widespread destruction and massive loss of life across multiple cities in the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is reporting that thousands of people may be dead, with search and rescue operations now beginning in the hardest-hit areas.
In Mandalay, the earthquake's impact was particularly severe. A local mosque was completely destroyed, and at least 20 fatalities are feared. Mandalay University has also suffered extensive damage, with reports of fires and potential casualties among students and staff. The strong seismic activity was powerful enough to be felt across neighboring Thailand, triggering destructive consequences in multiple urban centers.
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Bangkok, Thailand's capital, is experiencing its own crisis following the earthquake. A significant tower has collapsed, with at least 43 people currently reported missing. The city is now in a state of emergency, with rescue teams desperately working to locate survivors trapped in the building's rubble. Numerous other buildings have also collapsed throughout the region, compounding the disaster's scale.
Emergency services are currently overwhelmed, struggling to respond to the widespread destruction. International aid organizations are mobilising to provide immediate assistance, with preliminary assessments suggesting this could be one of the most devastating earthquakes in the region's recent history.
