A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar at 12:50 PM (local time) on March 28. It was soon followed by an aftershock of 6.8 magnitude. The epicentre of the quake was 16km northwest of the city of Sagaing. The tremors of the earthquake were also felt in Thailand’s Bangkok and several areas of Vietnam. There are no reports of casualties yet, but 43 people have been reported missing after a building collapsed in Bangkok.
Massive Earthquake Jolts Myanmar, Tremors Felt Neighbouring Countries
According to NDTV, two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 6.4 struck Myanmar on Friday. The tremors of the earthquake were felt as far away as northern Thailand and Vietnam. Some metro and rail services were suspended in Bangkok and also in China’s Yunnan province. According to the United States Geological Survey, the depth of the earthquake was 10km.
Some reports also suggest that mild tremors were also reported in India’s Kolkata and parts of Manipur.
Videos and photographs on social media show massive destruction across Myanmar and Thailand. Many terrifying videos captured buildings shaking and collapsing with people running to save their lives.
Myanmar’s Sagaing Bridge (Ava Bridge) also collapsed in the aftermath of the earthquake that shook the country.
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No Tsunami Warning Issued Yet
While there have been no reports of any casualties yet, reports suggest that 43 people are missing after an unknown under-construction building collapsed in Bangkok. Despite the powerful earthquake, there has been no tsunami warning issued by Myanmar authorities yet.
It is to be noted that earthquakes are quite common in Myanmar. As per reports, six strong quakes of 7.0 magnitude or more struck the country between 1930 and 1956 near the Sagaing Fault. More recently, a massive 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted central Myanmar in 2016. Around three people were killed due to the toppling spires and crumbling temple walls in Bagan.
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We hope that the missing people are found soon. More updates are awaited.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@WeatherMonitors & X/@SprinterObserve