Thousands Feared De*d After Violent Earthquake Devastates Southeast Asia

Go to Article

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Asia on Friday, pummeling buildings and causing mass destruction.

The violent earthquake rocked Myanmar and Thailand, with its epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city.

A high-rise under construction collapsed in Bangkok, Thailand.

Shocking scenes emerged from the devastation, with death estimates ranging between 1,000 to 10,000.

WATCH:

From the New York Post:

Although the extent of death and destruction wasn’t immediately clear, the US Geological Survey (USGS) issued a red alert — estimating that deaths could range between 1,000 and 10,000.

“High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” the federal agency warned, noting that “past red alerts have required a national or international response.”

At least 144 were quickly confirmed dead in Myanmar — one of the world’s poorest countries — where photos and video from two hard-hit cities showed extensive damage.

At least 732 were injured in the nation, according to officials, who declared a state of emergency in the capital city of Naypyidaw.

“Casualties are expected to rise,” said Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, commander in chief of Myanmar’s armed forces. “Buildings have collapsed in several areas, and rescue operations are underway.”

The destruction spread hundreds of miles from the epicenter, including in neighboring Thailand, where an under-construction skyscraper crashed down in the capital Bangkok, killing at least eight people, Thai authorities said. Two others were confirmed dead elsewhere in the city.

At least 100 more remained trapped under debris from the collapsed building Friday night local time, according to Thailand’s Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

WATCH:

From the Associated Press:

In Thailand, authorities in Bangkok said six people were killed, 22 were injured and 101 were missing from three construction sites, including the high-rise. They revised the death toll Saturday morning from 10 reported the previous day, saying several critically injured people were mistakenly reported dead. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that more people were believed to be alive in the wreckage as search efforts continued Saturday morning.

The 7.7 magnitude quake struck at midday, with an epicenter near Mandalay, Myanmar ’s second-largest city. Aftershocks followed, one of them measuring a strong 6.4 magnitude.

Myanmar is in an active earthquake belt, though many of the temblors happen in sparsely populated areas, not cities like those affected Friday. The U.S. Geological Survey, an American government science agency, estimated that the death toll could top 1,000.

In Mandalay, the earthquake reportedly brought down multiple buildings, including one of the city’s largest monasteries. Photos from the capital city of Naypyidaw showed rescue crews pulling victims from the rubble of multiple buildings used to house civil servants.

Myanmar’s government said blood was in high demand in the hardest-hit areas. In a country where prior governments sometimes have been slow to accept foreign aid, Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar was ready to accept assistance.

A 37-member team from the Chinese province of Yunnan reached the city of Yangon early Saturday with earthquake detectors, drones and other supplies, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia’s emergencies ministry dispatched two planes carrying 120 rescuers and supplies, according to a report from the Russian state news agency Tass. India sent a search and rescue team and a medical team as well as blankets, tarpaulin, hygiene kits, sleeping bags, solar lamps, food packets and kitchen sets, the country’s foreign minister posted on X. Malaysia’s foreign ministry said the country will send 50 people on Sunday to help identify and provide aid to the worst-hit areas.

The United Nations allocated $5 million to start relief efforts. President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. was going to help with the response, but some experts were concerned about this effort given his administration’s deep cuts in foreign assistance.

But amid images of buckled and cracked roads and reports of a collapsed bridge and a burst dam, there were concerns about how rescuers would even reach some areas in a country already enduring a humanitarian crisis.



Comment on this Article Via Your Disqus Account