A massive earthquake struck Myanmar and parts of neighbouring Thailand, leaving a trail of destruction and a mounting death count. As of Saturday, the death count in Myanmar and Thailand is over 1,000.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, at 12:50 pm (0650 GMT) on Friday at a shallow depth of 10 km. Minutes later, a 6.7-magnitude aftershock and a series of smaller tremors followed.
The quake was felt across the region, shaking buildings from India to the west and China to the east, as well as Cambodia and Laos. Myanmar’s military junta said in a statement this morning that the death count in the country has crossed 1,000.
In neighboring Thailand, the earthquake led to the deaths of 10 people, primarily due to the collapse of a high-rise under construction near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market. Up to 100 workers are feared trapped in the rubble.