In Bangkok, a skyscraper collapsed following the quake, trapping 43 people under the rubble and one dead, according to local reports.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) identified the earthquake’s epicenter near the city of Mandalay in Myanmar. Just 12 minutes later, a 6.4 magnitude aftershock was recorded in the same region.
The USGS warns of “high casualties and extensive damage,” noting that the disaster is likely widespread, particularly in Myanmar, which remains in the grip of a civil war.
@bnc.ph A skyscraper under construction has collapsed in Bangkok’s Chatuchak area following a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar. The tremors, which were felt in Thailand and China, caused roads to buckle in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw. Some metro and light rail services in Bangkok have been suspended. Videos from local media show the moment the building collapsed in the #BangSue district of Bangkok. Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage. #news #newsph #phnews #latestnews #worldnews #bnc #bilyonaryonewschannel #fyp #foryoupage #bangkok ♬ original sound – bnc.ph
Footage circulating on social media captures the moment a high-rise building in Bangkok crumbled after the tremor. Another video shows water cascading down the sides of an apartment tower.
Greater Bangkok, home to 17 million people, has a large number of high-rise buildings, many of which may be structurally vulnerable. The USGS notes that buildings in both Myanmar and Thailand are particularly susceptible to earthquake damage.
“Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist,” the agency states.
“The predominant vulnerable building types include informal constructions made of metal, timber, and galvanized iron, as well as unreinforced brick masonry.”
