On Monday, another one of those 7.7-magnitude quakes hit Southeast Asia. In Bangkok, Thailand, the quake was strong enough to knock down an under-construction high-rise building, tragically killing at least eight people. A strong 6.0-magnitude quake rattled Myanmar’s central region of Sagaing on July 28. It further destroyed the fragile and scarred landscape and complicated what was already a grim reality in this embattled nation.
The earthquake’s impact was felt hundreds of miles from its epicenter near Mandalay, a city that houses approximately 1.5 million residents. The horror in Bangkok is just one part of the story. A 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Myanmar on March 24 has killed at least 144 people and injured more than 730, the head of Myanmar’s military government said today. The devastation unfolded at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time, cutting across Southeast Asia with terrifying tremors.
The seismic forces due to earthquake shaking made this quasi-high-rise structure in Bangkok get pancaked. In response, the Thai Prime Minister issued a weeklong “emergency zone” in the city. The tremor extended well beyond Thailand’s borders, shaking buildings in China’s far western Yunnan province and setting off mass panic.
Myanmar’s military junta imposed a state of emergency following the catastrophe. They called for international support to fill the gaps and aid response efforts in a region that is already experiencing calamity. Tom Andrew, the United Nations special rapporteur for Myanmar, described the situation as “a disaster upon a disaster.” He noted the stagnant civil war that has Daniel and his people at each other’s throats.
“Mother Nature was having its way – like swatting a fly,” – Erik Honan
As this immense earthquake not only wrought terrible physical destruction, but unleashed severe confusion, fear and panic among residents. It happened in Myanmar, too — videos appeared on YouTube of terrified citizens escaping from tumbling condo buildings. The quake was indeed strong—strong enough to send shock waves around the globe and produce multiple aftershocks. One of them was a staggering 6.4, according to the United States Geological Survey.
“The quake was very powerful, we could not run out of the building immediately,” – Tun Kyaw
“It was like the whole building was going to collapse. I was not sure I would get out alive.” – Tun Kyaw
Watch how people in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, recalled their terrifying experiences in Myanmar’s recent earthquake.
“We felt the quake for about one minute and then we ran out of the building.” – A resident in Yangon
“We saw other people running out of the buildings too. It was very sudden and very strong.” – A resident in Yangon
The region’s geography exacerbated the situation, with Myanmar’s central Sagaing region already plagued by civil unrest. The destruction from the earthquake complicated the already tough obstacles on the ground. Rescue operations were brilliantly difficult, as electricity and internet collapsed across the country.
“people next to me were all scared to death.” – Wang
“The quake felt so strong, and lasted really long,” – Wang
Additional tremors were felt across borders, with reports emerging from China’s Yunnan province where people experienced dizziness due to the quake’s intensity.
“It was shaking and I felt dizzy,” – Sunan Kenkiat
The earthquake’s catastrophe underscores the many systemic vulnerabilities and seismic risk to infrastructure that stretches across the affected areas. In Bangkok, inspectors are focusing on what might cause collapse. They’re working around the clock, evaluating damages and hardening critical infrastructure to stop more people from dying.
