A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, strongly shaking buildings throughout an unlimited expanse of Southeast Asia, and inflicting harm in cities as far-off as Bangkok in neighboring Thailand. At the very least 13 individuals had been killed in Myanmar, and three in Thailand.
The quake struck close to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest metropolis with greater than one million individuals, round 12:50 p.m. native time, america Geological Survey stated. An aftershock of magnitude 6.4 was recorded 12 minutes later.
A magnitude of seven.7 is taken into account to be robust. At a depth of about six miles, the quake was comparatively shallow, which made it prone to trigger violent shaking.
After the tremor in Mandalay, buildings had been broken and injured individuals had been rushed to the primary hospital. Dozens of sufferers from the hospital had been compelled to flee to a close-by car parking zone. Many had been nonetheless hooked as much as intravenous drips and oxygen tanks.
In Mandalay the earthquake killed no less than 13 individuals and injured 200 others, based on a physician at Mandalay Normal Hospital. It additionally prompted bridges and a number of other buildings throughout Myanmar to break down, together with in Naypyidaw, the nation’s capital, The World New Gentle of Myanmar, a state-owned newspaper, reported.
Particulars concerning the extent of the harm and casualties in lots of elements of Myanmar weren’t instantly accessible. The nation has been ravaged by a civil war that started after the navy seized energy in a coup 4 years in the past.
In Bangkok, the streets had been full of people that had been afraid of aftershocks or weren’t allowed again into their buildings. Site visitors was at a digital standstill. A number of movies captured water surging from swimming pools atop resorts and residential towers in Bangkok.
Movies verified by The New York Occasions confirmed the collapse of a 30-story skyscraper that was below building in Bangkok. The movies confirmed building staff and passers-by working for security, whereas different movies filmed from an elevated freeway confirmed clouds of mud engulfing the world. Thai news reports described the constructing as the brand new Workplace of the Auditor Normal.
At the very least three individuals died within the constructing collapse, based on a rescue employee. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand declared Bangkok to be an “space of emergency,” asking residents to evacuate from tall buildings to keep away from aftershocks.
The shaking was felt west of Myanmar in Bangladesh, together with in its capital, Dhaka, however there have been no instant stories of injury. The earthquake additionally shook buildings in Vietnam, together with in Hanoi, the capital, and Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, the state-run information outlet VnExpress reported.
Saif Hasnat contributed reporting from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Richard C. Paddock from Bangkok.
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