In Myanmar, 144 people have died, and 732 have so far been injured, following a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand this afternoon. The head of Myanmar’s military government, Min Aung Hlaing, in a televised speech this evening, said that 96 people have died in Nay Pyi Taw, 18 in Sagaing, and 30 in Mandalay. He said 132 of these were in Nay Pyi Taw and 300 were in Sagaing, with numbers still being assessed in other areas. General Min Aung Hlaing said the death toll and injuries are expected to rise. Myanmar’s government said blood was in high demand in the hardest-hit areas. The quake damaged historical sites in Mandalay and collapsed a 90-year-old bridge in Sagaing. In the meantime, the Red Cross reported major damage and power outages, making rescue efforts difficult.
In Thailand, at least three people were killed in Bangkok, causing a high-rise building under construction to collapse.
According to media reports, Defence Minister of Thailand Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai said three people were killed at the site where a high-rise under construction collapsed in a quake and 90 are missing in Bangkok. So far, seven people have been rescued, but unstable rubble is slowing rescue efforts. The earthquake caused widespread fear in Bangkok as buildings swayed. People evacuated offices, malls, and apartments. The city’s transit system shut down, and roads were jammed. Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention said the quake was felt in almost all regions of the country. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an emergency meeting to assess the impact of the quake.