A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, leaving more than 140 people dead, destroying buildings, and triggering panic across neighboring Thailand. The death toll is expected to climb as rescuers search for hundreds of people believed to be trapped under rubble.
The epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, which bore the brunt of the devastation. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to debris, and infrastructure—including bridges, roads, and buildings—was severely damaged.
In Amarapura, a district of Mandalay, one rescue worker reported at least 30 bodies recovered from collapsed apartment buildings, adding that roughly 20% of the town had crumbled. “We’re short on manpower and equipment, but we won’t stop searching,” he said.
Myanmar’s state-run MRTV reported 144 deaths and more than 700 injuries. The military junta’s leader, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, made an unusual public appeal for international aid, signaling the immense scale of the disaster.
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged assistance, and despite the Trump administration’s moves to scale back USAID, officials confirmed they are prepared to deliver aid, including food and clean water.
In Thailand, the quake caused a 30-story tower under construction in Bangkok to collapse, killing at least nine people. Over 100 individuals remain missing, and panic gripped the city as residents ran into the streets. At a luxury hotel, water from a rooftop pool poured over the edge due to the tremors.
The quake also triggered tragedy at religious sites. In Taungoo, three people died when a mosque partially collapsed during prayers. In Pyinmana, rescuers retrieved at least 60 bodies, including from monasteries.
Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, saw hospitals and roads damaged. A major hospital sustained structural damage, and one neighborhood in Mandalay reportedly caught fire following the quake.
The nation, already weakened by civil war, displacement, and a collapsing healthcare system, is struggling to respond. The opposition’s National Unity Government vowed to send People’s Defense Forces to assist with relief.
With over 3 million displaced and one-third of the population needing humanitarian aid, rights groups like Amnesty International say the quake struck at the worst possible time. Limited media access and damaged infrastructure mean the true extent of the disaster may take days to fully assess.
Myanmar lies on a major fault line and is prone to seismic activity. The latest quake underscores the country’s vulnerability, especially under the current humanitarian crisis.