A powerful earthquake struck northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, on Friday afternoon, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. At least 144 people have been confirmed dead, with more than 730 injured. The quake caused massive surface ruptures, collapsing buildings, roads, and infrastructure. The tremors were felt across the region, including in Thailand and China.
In Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, hospitals were inundated with a steady flow of casualties. The emergency department of the city’s main 1,000-bed hospital suffered severe damage, with portions of the entrance collapsing, crushing a vehicle underneath. Rows of wounded lay outside the hospital, some writhing in pain while others sat in shock, their bodies bloodied and covered in dust.
Medical personnel struggled to treat the influx of injured patients. “This is a mass casualty area,” a hospital official stated, urging journalists to leave the treatment area. One exhausted doctor described the chaotic scene: “Many injured people have been arriving. I have never seen anything like this before.”
The capital, located approximately 250 kilometers south of the earthquake’s epicenter, experienced violent tremors that lasted for nearly 30 seconds. Roads buckled, tarmac split apart, and buildings suffered extensive damage. Myanmar’s military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, visited the hospital, observing the overwhelming situation firsthand.
The tremors extended beyond Myanmar, reaching Thailand, where buildings in Bangkok swayed violently. The most severe incident occurred in Chatuchak district, where the under-construction 33-story State Audit Office (SAO) building collapsed, trapping at least 83 construction workers inside. The Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department attributed the collapse to structural instability exacerbated by the earthquake.
Emergency teams, including police, army personnel, and rescue workers, deployed drones and search robots to locate survivors amidst the rubble. The latest reports confirm three fatalities, while 68 others sustained injuries, including five in critical condition. Survivors were transported to various hospitals across the city for treatment.
The Bangkok Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, held a press conference reassuring the public that damage was mostly limited to buildings under construction. “We have received 169 reports of cracked buildings, but no structural collapses in completed buildings,” he stated. He urged citizens to inspect their homes and offices for structural cracks before re-entering.
Authorities temporarily halted operations on the city’s BTS and MRT transit systems for safety inspections. While initial assessments showed no major structural damage, checks on control systems are ongoing. The governor expects services to resume by tomorrow morning. A crane collapse in Din Daeng district temporarily blocked an expressway but has since been cleared.
Despite concerns about aftershocks, experts reassure residents that any future tremors will likely be smaller and not pose a significant threat. Nevertheless, Bangkok has been declared a disaster area, allowing coordinated emergency response efforts to continue.
Rescue teams remain focused on locating survivors in Myanmar and Bangkok. The unstable structure of the SAO building in Chatuchak poses significant challenges for rescuers, who are listening for sounds of knocking or cries for help. Officials stress that their priority is saving lives before shifting to recovery operations.
