The tremor, which hit at about 1:30 p.m. local time, violently shook high-rise buildings in Bangkok and caused the collapse of a construction site, leaving dozens feared trapped.
Apowerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, triggering mass evacuations, building collapses, and fears of heavy casualties.
The tremor, which hit at about 1:30 p.m. local time, violently shook high-rise buildings in Bangkok and caused the collapse of a construction site, leaving dozens feared trapped.
Meanwhile, a second, 6.4 magnitude tremor followed just 12 minutes later, compounding the devastation.
In Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw, the earthquake’s force cracked roads and sent debris raining down from buildings.
A major hospital in the city declared a “mass casualty area” as emergency responders scrambled to assess the full extent of the damage.
In Bangkok, home to over 17 million residents, alarms blared as office workers and residents rushed from high-rise buildings.
Disturbing footage captured the moment a construction site crumbled under the tremors, with local media reporting that at least 43 workers remain unaccounted for.
Police told the Associated Press they were responding to the scene near Bangkok’s bustling Chatuchak Market but had no immediate details on the number of workers present at the time of the collapse.
The powerful midday earthquake was followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, prompting authorities to warn evacuees in Bangkok to remain outside due to the risk of further tremors.
According to preliminary reports from the U.S. Geological Survey and Germany’s GFZ geoscience centre, the earthquake was shallow, striking at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) with its epicentre in Myanmar.
In Bangkok, rooftop pools in high-rise buildings spilt over as structures swayed, while falling debris was reported in multiple locations.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened an emergency meeting to assess the impact of the quake.
The greater Bangkok area, home to over 17 million people, features numerous residents living in high-rise apartments.
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