Six powerful earthquakes, the strongest measuring 7.7 in magnitude, rocked central Myanmar at 12:50 PM local time on Friday. The tremors triggered aftershocks across parts of Thailand, China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, causing widespread panic and destruction.

Massive Quake Jolts Myanmar

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quakes had their epicenters northwest of Sagaing, at depths ranging between 10 and 30 kilometers. Initial reports confirm at least 20 fatalities, most of them from a hospital in Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital, which could turn into a "mass casualty area." Additional casualties have been reported from a mosque in Mandalay that collapsed during prayers and a university where a fire broke out following the tremors.

Aid organizations warn that the final death toll, including those in neighboring countries, could reach into the hundreds. In response, Myanmar’s junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, declared a state of emergency and called for international assistance.

Impact Beyond Myanmar

The tremors were strongly felt in northern Thailand, leading to the suspension of metro and railway services in Bangkok. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra cut short her visit to Phuket to lead an emergency review meeting before declaring an emergency in the Thai capital. At least three people have been confirmed dead after a building collapse in Bangkok.

China’s Yunnan province also experienced intense shaking, with the China Earthquake Networks Center measuring the quake at a magnitude of 7.9. Meanwhile, tremors were recorded in India’s Kolkata and Manipur, where seismic activity reached 4.4 on the Richter scale, and in Bangladesh’s Dhaka and Chattogram. No casualties have been reported in China so far.

India and Global Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that India is prepared to provide any necessary assistance. “Praying for the safety and well-being of everyone affected. Authorities are on standby,” he posted on X. Leaders from European nations also pledged support for relief efforts.

Horrifying Visuals Emerge

Shocking videos shared online captured the chaos. In Bangkok, footage showed terrified residents running onto the streets as buildings trembled. A resident from Chiang Mai described fleeing her home in pajamas as the earthquake struck.

One particularly chilling video showed water cascading from an infinity pool due to the violent shaking. Another captured the collapse of a 30-story under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, where Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed 84 workers were trapped. Rescuers are scrambling to save those still buried under the debris, with at least three deaths confirmed at the site so far.

Widespread Devastation in Myanmar

In Naypyidaw, emergency services were overwhelmed as a hospital reported receiving hundreds of injured individuals. Disturbing images showed the entrance to the hospital’s emergency wing caved in, crushing a parked vehicle, forcing medical teams to treat victims outside.

In Mandalay, a historic bridge over the Irrawaddy River collapsed, while multiple residential buildings suffered severe structural damage, with dozens feared trapped. Nearby, the Mandalay airport and a monastery in Taunggyi, located near the Thailand border, also sustained extensive destruction.

Relief efforts have been severely impacted due to damaged infrastructure. Key roads connecting Mandalay to Yangon have been wrecked, delaying emergency response teams.

Myanmar's Seismic History

Myanmar sits along the Sagaing Fault, a tectonic boundary that has experienced multiple major earthquakes. Between 1930 and 1956, six quakes with magnitudes exceeding 7.0 struck the region. More recently, a 6.8-magnitude quake in 2016 devastated Bagan, Myanmar’s ancient capital, killing three people and damaging historic temples.

The country’s limited medical infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, has further complicated disaster response efforts, raising concerns over Myanmar’s ability to cope with the unfolding crisis.