March 28, 2025 | New Delhi / Naypyidaw / Bangkok:
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, wreaking havoc across Southeast Asia. The quake has left at least 20 dead, with hospitals overwhelmed, buildings flattened, and rescue operations ongoing.
Key Updates:
🔴 Naypyidaw Hospital Declared “Mass Casualty Area”
- The 1000-bed hospital in Myanmar’s capital is overrun with injured victims, forcing doctors to treat people on the streets.
- A local doctor told AFP, “I haven’t seen anything like this before. We’re trying to handle it, but I’m exhausted.”
🔴 Mosque Collapses During Friday Prayers
- 10 worshippers killed as a mosque in Mandalay collapses.
🔴 Bangkok High-Rise Disaster: 43 Workers Trapped
- A 30-storey under-construction government building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak area collapsed due to severe tremors.
- Rescue teams are racing to find the 43 workers trapped under the debris.
- Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.
🔴 Widespread Damage Across Myanmar & Thailand
- In Myanmar’s Sagaing region, an old Irrawaddy River bridge collapsed.
- Major damage reported to religious shrines, homes, and airports in Mandalay and Taunggyi.
- A monastery near the Thai border reduced to rubble.
- Bangkok’s metro services suspended temporarily due to safety concerns.
🔴 Tremors Felt Across Southeast Asia & Eastern India
- China’s Yunnan province recorded 7.9-magnitude tremors.
- Kolkata, Imphal, Dhaka, and Chattogram felt mild shaking.
International Response:
- Indian PM Narendra Modi expressed solidarity, stating India is ready to assist Myanmar and Thailand.
- China and other ASEAN nations monitoring the situation for possible humanitarian aid.
📹 Viral videos show buildings shaking, metro services halting, and terrified residents fleeing into the streets. One clip captures the Bangkok high-rise crumbling into dust within seconds.
🚨 Rescue efforts are ongoing. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as emergency teams sift through the debris.
💬 What should be the global response to this unfolding disaster? 🌍