A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 in magnitude rocked Thailand and Burma on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction and resulting in significant casualties.
The earthquake caused catastrophic damage, leading to over 1,000 deaths and thousands of injuries across the region, as Fox News reports.
The tremor's epicenter was located in central Burma, causing extensive damage in the country and affecting neighboring regions. Bangkok, Thailand's bustling capital, suffered significant damage, especially in the Chatuchak market area. In this area, a building collapsed in full view of stunned onlookers, exemplifying the chaos the quake unleashed.
Across both Thailand and Burma, more than 1,000 individuals lost their lives, and 2,376 sustained injuries as a result of the seismic catastrophe. The earthquake left buildings crumbled, turning what once were vibrant areas into scenes of despair.
In Burma, the head of the military government confirmed at least 144 fatalities and 730 injuries. Major cities such as Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, saw damage to historic structures like the former royal palace. Additionally, significant infrastructure such as bridges and highways were severely affected.
Thailand faced its share of destruction, with a high-rise structure under construction in Bangkok collapsing. This tragic incident resulted in ten deaths and numerous injuries while leaving 101 people unaccounted for. The disaster prompted authorities to declare Bangkok a disaster zone to bolster aid and recovery efforts.
The earthquake's reverberations were not limited to the immediate region. An aftershock measuring 6.4 magnitude was felt, compounding fears and contributing to the overall devastation. The tremors reached different parts of Asia, including India and China, where injuries were also reported.
In China, particularly in Tibet, 188 individuals were confirmed injured following the quake's impact. This underscores the far-reaching consequences of this seismic event, affecting thousands beyond the primary epicenter. Rescue operations commenced swiftly as emergency services worked tirelessly to reach those trapped under debris. However, officials warned that the number of casualties could still increase as search efforts continue and damaged sites are assessed more comprehensively.
Witnesses provided haunting accounts of the pandemonium that ensued during the earthquake. April Kanichawanakul, one of the survivors, initially mistook the tremors for dizziness, illustrating the sudden onset of the disaster.
A Scottish tourist, Fraser Morton, recounted his experience within a Bangkok mall, describing the rapid escalation from confusion to widespread panic. He noted the immediate "screaming and a lot of panic" when the building began to shake. Morton's testimony highlighted the fear that gripped people as the shaking intensified and debris began to fall. "I just started walking calmly at first," he expressed, but as the quake worsened, chaos broke out as people rushed for safety amidst "lots of banging and crashing inside the mall."
Authorities in the affected nations are vigorously working to gauge the scope of the damage and mobilize relief efforts. Thailand's military-led government urged patience, stressing that "detailed figures" on the disaster's impact were still being collected.
In anticipation of further developments, officials indicated that death tolls and injury reports are expected to rise. The profound impact of the earthquake has triggered both national and international responses aimed at providing humanitarian aid and facilitating rebuilding efforts.
As rescue operations continue, the focus remains on ensuring survivors receive timely assistance and that ongoing efforts address the broader needs of the affected populations. This devastating event underscores the region's vulnerability to natural disasters and the challenges of disaster preparedness and response.
