Eric Patrick
A massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, which is home to approximately one million residents and a number of historic temple complexes on Friday.
The tremors were so intense that they rattled buildings as far away as Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.
Videos shared on social media captured panicked residents fleeing from swaying residential towers as clouds of dust swirled in the air while traffic came to an abrupt halt on the bustling city streets.
Myanmar has been grappling with the devastating impacts of a civil war that has lasted over four years, ignited by a violent and economically damaging military coup.
This conflict has unfolded as military forces engage in fierce battles against various rebel groups throughout the nation.
The city remains one of Asia’s poorest nations and is ill-equipped to deal with major natural disasters.
An airstrike by the Junta claimed 40 lives in Myanmar; the devastating airstrike occurred in the Sagaing region, an area deeply affected by ongoing civil conflict.
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The military junta, pro-military militias, and rebel factions are locked in a fierce struggle for dominance, leading to numerous checkpoints that severely limit movement by road or river.
In an early indication of the quake’s strength, tremors were felt not just in Thailand but also in China’s southwestern Yunnan province.
Video posted on Facebook, and was seen by First News showed the collapse of a building in Chatuchak Park, Bangkok.
The National Institute for Emergency Medicine, in an X post, says 43 people were trapped in the building while seven others have been injured.
