A powerful earthquake of 7.7 magnitude struck Myanmar at 11:50 am on Friday. The tremors were felt in five countries—India, Thailand, Bangladesh, China, and Myanmar—causing widespread panic.
The disaster has been most severe in Myanmar and Thailand, where more than 150 people have lost their lives. In Myanmar alone, 150 people have died, and 732 are injured.
In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, a 30-storey under-construction building collapsed due to the earthquake. Around 400 workers were present at the site, and 110 are trapped under the rubble. Three people have died, and many are still missing.
People in these five countries rushed out of their homes and offices in fear as the earthquake struck. Due to the massive destruction, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Pyitongtarn Shinawatra, has declared a state of emergency.
According to the US Geological Survey, this earthquake falls under the “red category” for possible deaths. This means the number of casualties could be between 10,000 and 1 lakh, with a 34% chance of reaching this number, making it a highly dangerous disaster.