A pair of powerful earthquakes struck Myanmar on Friday, March 28, causing widespread destruction and sending dangerous shockwaves into neighboring Thailand. The first quake, a massive 7.7 magnitude tremor, hit near the town of Sagaing, followed just 12 minutes later by a second 6.4 magnitude quake. Both were shallow, making their impact even more severe. The latest reports confirm over 1,000 fatalities and more than 2,400 injuries, but officials fear the number could climb much higher—possibly exceeding 10,000—as rescue teams dig through collapsed buildings.
In Bangkok, a 30-story high-rise under construction crumbled, killing at least six people and leaving over 100 missing. Heavy machinery and sniffer dogs are being used to search for survivors. The earthquakes caused catastrophic damage across Myanmar and Thailand. The historic Ava Bridge, which had stood for 91 years, collapsed into the Irrawaddy River. Temples, homes, and roads were reduced to rubble, leaving millions homeless. Videos from Bangkok showed skyscrapers swaying violently before collapsing, sending clouds of dust into the streets as people fled in panic.
One major concern is the ancient city of Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with centuries-old Buddhist temples. The area sits directly on the dangerous Sagaing fault line, and experts warn that further aftershocks could cause irreparable damage to these cultural treasures. China and India have sent emergency teams, while humanitarian groups are rushing medical supplies to affected areas. Authorities have also called for a temporary halt to ongoing conflicts in Myanmar to allow aid to reach those in desperate need.
Residents in both countries were caught completely off guard. “The quake felt so strong and lasted really long,” said one survivor in Myanmar. In Bangkok, people described buildings shaking violently without warning, forcing them to run for their lives. Thailand’s Prime Minister has declared Bangkok an emergency zone, urging people to avoid high-rise buildings and use stairs instead of elevators. Myanmar’s military government has also imposed a state of emergency across six regions.
Experts warn that aftershocks could continue for days, and rescue teams are working nonstop to find survivors. The full scale of the disaster is still unfolding, and the world is watching as Myanmar and Thailand face one of their worst natural disasters in history.
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