A devastating earthquake hit Myanmar, killing at least 5 people and injuring many more. The 8.2-magnitude quake struck the country’s central region, causing widespread destruction.
In Myanmar’s towns, buildings crumbled, and people were trapped under the rubble. At least 3 people died in the town of Taungoo when a mosque collapsed. Two more people were killed in Aung Ban when a hotel fell.
The ancient Mandalay palace was also damaged. Many tall buildings in Mandalay collapsed, and a 90-year-old bridge in the town of Sagaing was destroyed.
The Myanmar government has asked for international humanitarian aid, which is rare. The country’s military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, visited hospitals in the capital, Naypyidaw, where many injured people are being treated.
One of the biggest hospitals in Naypyidaw is overwhelmed with casualties. The situation is so dire that the hospital has been declared a “mass casualty area,” exceeding the local healthcare system’s capacity and resources.
In Thailand, a 30-story building under construction in Bangkok collapsed during the earthquake, killing 3 workers and trapping more than 40 others.
The earthquake also affected parts of China, damaging many homes and injuring several people in the cities of Ruili and Yunnan, which border Myanmar.
Sources:
- Channel News Asia: Myanmar strong earthquake causes panic in Bangkok