Photo: Lauren DeCicca / Getty Images News / Getty Images
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday (March 28), causing widespread destruction across the region. Officials said that at least 150 people were killed and over 700 were injured. Those numbers are expected to increase.
The quake's epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, and its tremors were felt across Southeast Asia, including in Bangkok, Thailand. Myanmar's military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, declared a state of emergency and appealed for international assistance, marking a rare request from the isolated nation.
In Thailand, a high-rise building under construction collapsed in Bangkok, killing at least eight people and trapping over 100 others. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared the affected area a disaster zone. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with local crews working to free those trapped under the rubble.
The earthquake has left many regions in Myanmar without electricity and internet, complicating rescue operations. Amnesty International and the United Nations have urged Myanmar's junta to allow aid groups to enter freely. The quake's impact is expected to worsen the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where millions are already in need of aid due to ongoing conflict.
In both countries, the full extent of the damage is still emerging, with aftershocks continuing to shake the region. The international community is mobilizing to provide assistance, with offers of help already accepted from India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).