A powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday afternoon has now claimed at least 1,600 lives, with authorities confirming that the disaster’s impact has stretched beyond the country’s borders.
The quake, which had its epicenter in Mandalay, the nation’s second-largest city, has also left more than 3,400 people injured, with 139 individuals still unaccounted for under the rubble, according to Reuters.
The tremors were so severe that they were felt as far as China’s remote provinces. In Thailand, Myanmar’s neighboring country, at least 10 people have been reported dead.
The quake caused significant damage in Bangkok, located 620 miles from Mandalay, where a 33-story high-rise under construction collapsed.
Reports indicate that the earthquake led to the destruction of multiple buildings, including one of Mandalay’s largest monasteries.
In Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, rescue teams have been working tirelessly to extract survivors from the debris of several government buildings housing civil servants.
The US Geological Survey classified the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.7, making it the most powerful to strike Myanmar in over a century. One of the aftershocks, measuring 6.4 in magnitude, further exacerbated the destruction.
Myanmar Seeks International Aid Amid Relief Challenges
The government has issued an urgent call for blood donations in the worst-affected areas while also appealing for international assistance.
Military leader and junta chief Aung Hlaing acknowledged Myanmar’s historical reluctance to accept foreign aid but emphasized that given the scale of this catastrophe, the country is now open to external help.
However, the United Nations reported on Saturday that damaged infrastructure, including wrecked roads and collapsed buildings, is hindering relief operations.
Meanwhile, the USGS has warned that the death toll could surpass 10,000.
The agency compared this disaster to the devastating 1912 earthquake in Taunggyi, describing it as the last event of a similar magnitude to impact Myanmar.
Despite the country’s history of seismic activity, past quakes have typically been weaker and occurred in remote areas with lower population density.
Myanmar’s geographical location makes it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, as it sits between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
The recent quake was triggered by a process known as “strike-slip faulting,” where these two plates slide past each other sideways, according to the USGS.
Earthquakes occur when built-up pressure along fault lines causes underground rock formations to shift abruptly, releasing seismic waves.
These sudden movements result in the ground shaking, often leading to widespread destruction, as seen in this latest disaster.
With rescue efforts underway and aftershocks still occurring, Myanmar faces an uphill battle in recovering from one of the deadliest earthquakes in its history.
