On a seemingly ordinary Friday, a 7.7 – magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second – largest city. The tremors were so powerful that they quickly spread across Myanmar and into neighboring Thailand, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in their wake.
In Thailand, the effects were felt far and wide. Bangkok, the capital city, was one of the hardest – hit areas. A 33 – story building at the popular Chatuchak market collapsed, sending shockwaves through the city. As of now, the death toll in Bangkok has been revised. Initially, it was thought that many people were missing and trapped, but later reports showed that the number of deaths was 6, with 26 people injured and 47 still missing.
Hospitals in Bangkok were thrown into chaos. Patients were evacuated outdoors, and some surgeries had to be performed in the open due to the emergency. High – rise buildings swayed, and rooftop swimming pools overflowed. The earthquake also led to power outages and disruptions to the city’s transportation system. Public transport services, including many buses and all electric train lines, were suspended. However, the state railway, after safety checks, gradually resumed operations, though there were initial delays.
Myanmar is located on the boundary between the India and Eurasia tectonic plates. This makes it one of the most seismically active countries in the world. The recent earthquake occurred on the major Sagaing fault, which marks the boundary between these two plates. According to geologists, the relatively shallow depth of this earthquake, just 10 kilometers, meant that the shockwaves were not dissipated as they traveled from the focus of the earthquake to the surface. As a result, the buildings in the affected areas received the full force of the shaking, leading to significant damage.
After the initial earthquake, several powerful aftershocks followed. These aftershocks have kept the people in both northern Thailand and Bangkok on edge. The Thai government, through the prime minister, has been closely monitoring the situation. Inspections have been carried out on buildings in Bangkok, and the prime minister assured the public that most buildings are safe, except for some under – construction structures that had stability and wall issues.
However, the threat of further aftershocks remains. The Thai Structure Engineers Association has warned the public to be cautious and to avoid entering tall buildings until all – clear announcements are made.
For those who have already booked accommodation in Bangkok or other affected areas, it’s a good idea to contact your hotel or resort. Many hotels are working to ensure the safety of their guests, but some may have had to make changes to their operations due to the earthquake.
Travelers should also stay updated with the latest information from official channels. The Thai government’s social media pages and local news sources are great places to get the most current news about the situation.
While the earthquake has had a significant impact on Thailand, the country is resilient, and efforts are underway to restore normalcy. With proper precautions and up – to – date information, travelers can still have a safe and enjoyable trip to Thailand.
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