Deadly earthquake hits Myanmar, killing 10 & causing widespread damage

KATHMANDU: At least 10 people lost their lives when a mosque collapsed in Mandalay following a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, as reported by the local news outlet Khit Thit.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, hit 16 km north-northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, earlier in the day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The epicenter was located at a depth of 10.0 km, with coordinates 22.01 degrees north latitude and 95.92 degrees east longitude.

The quake caused significant damage to several buildings, including the walled fort of Mandalay Palace.

In Mandalay Region, numerous structures collapsed, and key roads connecting Mandalay and Yangon were either damaged or blocked, causing major disruptions to transportation.

Xinhua reporters in Yangon also reported that the tremors were strongly felt in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital, as well as in Yangon, the country’s largest city.

Some schools and office buildings in Nay Pyi Taw were also said to have collapsed.

The Myanmar Fire Service Department confirmed that a rescue operation was underway in response to the earthquake.

The National Disaster Management Committee of Myanmar declared a state of emergency across six regions in the country.

The Myanmar government has committed to promptly conducting damage assessments and initiating emergency relief operations in the affected areas to ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance.

After the earthquake, Xinhua reporters in neighboring countries—Vientiane (Laos), Bangkok (Thailand), and Hanoi (Vietnam)—reported that strong tremors were also felt in those regions.

In Bangkok, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency following the collapse of a 30-story building under construction, which resulted in three fatalities. An earlier report indicated that 43 people were still missing from the incident.

In Vientiane, residents in buildings taller than three stories experienced noticeable shaking, while those in high-rise buildings felt intense swaying indoors.

Similarly, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, residents of tall buildings reported significant shaking while at home.