Thailand and Myanmar hit by strong earthquake

Photo:Depositphotos

The earthquake, centered near the ancient Myanmar city of Mandalay, struck on Friday. The main tremor measured 7.7 and was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 6.4.

In the Myanmar capital Naypyidaw, the earthquake damaged several buildings housing government employees. Rescue teams were working tirelessly to pull victims from the rubble and the head of Myanmar's military government said he expected the death toll to rise and called on all countries to provide aid and donations.

A thirty-three-story building near Chatuchak Market in the Thai capital, Bangkok, has collapsed. Eight people have died in the disaster, and the interior minister says another 90 to 110 people are missing. Bangkok's transport system is at a standstill, with no trains running. Most buildings in the city centre remain closed.

In Myanmar, the earthquake toppled several buildings in the Buddhist heart of the country, the city of Mandalay. Unfortunately, one of the largest monasteries, Ma Soe Yane, collapsed and the royal palace was also damaged. In the Sagaing region, a bridge collapsed and the highway connecting Mandalay and Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, was damaged.

The Thai prime minister declared a state of emergency in the country and Bangkok was declared a disaster area. The tremors were also felt in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China. The tremors were also felt in Cambodia, Bangladesh and India.

Source:Aljazeera