At least 153 people have died after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar today, sending tremors as far as Bangkok and reducing buildings in the region to rubble.
Myanmar’s ruling military junta said at least 144 people were killed and 737 injured in the country following Friday’s catastrophic earthquake, which prompted both Thailand and Myanmar to declare a state of emergency. Ruling military general Min Aung Hlaing warned that more deaths and casualties should be expected.
In Bangkok, which has been declared a disaster area by city authorities, a high-rise building under construction collapsed in a huge plume of dust near the city’s Chatuchak Market. Dramatic footage circulating on social media showed scenes of panic as the structure crumbling into a cloud of dust and onlookers screamed and ran.
At least 117 people are missing in the building, rescuers said. Nine people are confirmed dead in Bangkok including eight at the building site, the city’s deputy governor Tavida Kamolvej said.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake had a depth of 10km (6.2 miles) and was centred about 17km from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. A strong 6.4-magnitude aftershock followed the initial tremor.
Key Points
- At least 144 dead and 737 injured in Myanmar, says state-run TV
- Eight dead and 117 missing following collapse of Bangkok high-rise
- Mapped: Where did the Myanmar earthquake strike
- Myanmar: Blood high in demand as military junta declares state of emergency
- Thai PM declares state of emergency
- Strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocks Thailand and Myanmar
Tremors cause damage and casualties in southern China, reports claim
16:59
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Andy Gregory
According to Chinese media reports, the earthquake was also felt in China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, and caused damage and injuries in the city of Ruili – which sits on the border with Myanmar.
Footage reported to have been captured in Ruili showed building debris littering a street and a person being wheeled in a stretcher toward an ambulance.
The shaking in Mangshi, a Chinese city some 60 miles northeast of Ruili, was so strong that people couldn't stand, one resident told The Paper, an online media outlet.
Ten dead, 16 injured and 101 missing at three construction sites in Bangkok, authorities say
16:45
,
Andy Gregory
In Thailand, Bangkok city authorities have said that 10 people have been killed, 16 injured and 101 missing from three construction sites, including the high-rise responsible for at least eight of the confirmed deaths.
Myanmar capital’s 1,000-bed hospital damaged in quake, state media says
16:31
,
Andy Gregory
A 1,000-bed hospital in Myanmar’s capital Nyapyitaw was among the buildings that sustained damage from the earthquake, according to state media.
Agence France-Presse earlier reported that rows of people injured in the quake lay outside the hospital’s emergency department as a stream of casualties were brought there on Friday. The entrance to the emergency area itself was heavily damaged, and a car could reportedly be seen crushed under the concrete of the collapsed entrance.
Watch: Rooftop pool spills over side of skyscraper as Bangkok hit by earthquake tremors
16:20
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Alex Croft
In pictures: Huge cracks in Myanmar roads
16:07
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Alex Croft
'Rush of blood to the head': Scottish PR consultant recalls moment earthquake struck
15:55
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Alex Croft
Alex MacGregor, a PR consultant who has been living in the Thai capital for the last six months, was working from home and waiting for the delivery of his lunch when the tremors began at around 1.30pm local time.
“I was just waiting for the driver to come with my food and I look in the pool and noticed the water started to kind of lap at the edges… but then it started to get violent,” the 36-year-old, originally from Inverness, told the PA news agency.
“All of a sudden I started feeling faint, like that kind of blood rushing to the head feeling, and I was like: ‘Am I ill here, or what’s going on?’
“Then I looked up the other condo, which is a really high skyscraper and I saw their pool water coming over the sides and that’s when I knew it was an earthquake.
“It’s a weird sensation, you’re seeing a lot of things happen in slow motion around you… I actually went and sat down because I was feeling unsteady on my feet.”
Mr MacGregor said the atmosphere was “remarkably calm” as people evacuated his building. “The Thai people are really friendly people, very chill – the last people that are going to panic in this kind of situation.”
Is it safe to travel to Thailand and is Bangkok airport open? Advice for tourists after Myanmar earthquake
15:44
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Alex Croft
The Thai Department of Disaster Prevention said the quake was felt in almost all parts of the country.
Cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai attract huge numbers of tourists every year to its breathtaking landscapes, cultural landmarks and luxury hotels, while its coast and islands are often touted as home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Travel writer Amelia Neath reveals all you need to know about the recent earthquake, its impacts and the latest travel advice.
Summary: What has happened so far?
15:31
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Alex Croft
Here’s a summary of the days events following the devastating earthquake in Myanmar.
- A huge 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar at around midday, with tremors and spreading as far as Bangkok.
- State of emergencies were declared by authorities in Thailand and Myanmar. Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, was later declared a disaster area.
- At least 153 have been confirmed dead in the region. Nine people are dead in Bangkok, the city’s governor Chadchart Sittipun said. Myanmar’s military junta announced that 144 people were dead and 732 injured in the region. The numbers are steadily rising.
- A huge rescue effort for 117 missing people is underway in Bangkok after a high-rise building, which was still under construction, collapsed in catastrophic scenes after the earthquake. Eight of the nine people confirmed dead in Bangkok were found at this site.
- Humanitarian organisations have called on Myanmar to allow unfettered aid into the region. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both noted the ruling military junta’s history of denying aid.
- The death toll may rise into the thousands, a US government predictive analysis has found based on the strength and depth of the earthquake.
- Blood is in high demand in Myanmar, military government spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said. He called on blood donors to contact hospitals as soon as possible.
- Fears are mounting over the scale of infrastructural damage in Myanmar. Roads, hospitals, bridges and buildings have all collapsed - and the Red Cross has expressed fears about the stability of major dams in the region.
At least nine dead in Bangkok after earthquake, including eight under skyscraper
15:16
,
Alex Croft
At least nine people have died in Bangkok as a result of Friday's earthquake, a Thai official has told Reuters.
The death toll us steadily rising in Thailand as well as in neighbouring Myanmar, where the quake was centred.
Of the confirmed casualties in the Thai capital, eight died when a building under construction collapsed, while the ninth person died in a different location, said Bangkok's Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej.
Thousands of deaths possible, says US government analysis of earthquake
15:06
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Alex Croft
There could be thousands of deaths and severe economic damage following the massive earthquake in Myanmar, a US government predictive analysis has found.
The conclusions were based on the strength and depth of Friday’s earthquake, with the Sagaing and Meiktila regions worst hit.
"Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist," the analysis said.
"High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread," it said.
Myanmar's military junta calls for help from international community
14:59
,
Alex Croft
Myanmar’s ruling military general called for “any country” to provide help and donations to the country, following the devastating earthquake which killed at least 144 people.
There will be more deaths and casualties, Min Aung Hlaing said on state television.
Routes have been opened for international assistance and offers of help from India and southeast Asian bloc ASEAN have been accepted, Mr Hlaing said.
At least 144 dead and 737 injured in Myanmar, says state-run TV
14:46
,
Alex Croft
At least 144 people in Myanmar have been killed in Myanmar following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake earlier on Friday, state-run TV has reported.
Another 732 have been injured, MRTV announced on Telegram.
Casualty figures have been slow to emerge in Myanmar and Thailand as rescuers scramble to find survivors under the rubble of buildings destroyed by the quake.
Eight dead and 117 missing following collapse of Bangkok high-rise
14:43
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Alex Croft
The number of people missing following the collapse of a high-rise building in Bangkok has been revised to 117, Thai rescuers said on Friday.
Eight people are confirmed dead in the collapse, rescuers said, an increase on the three earlier reported.
Watch: Moment building collapses as Myanmar earthquake tremors hit Bangkok
14:35
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Alex Croft
Pope Francis 'praying for the dramatic situation'
14:30
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Alex Croft
Pope Francis, who is recovering after a five-week hospitalization for life-threatening double pneumonia, offered prayers to the victims of the earthquake.
"The pope has been informed of the disaster in Myanmar and is praying for the dramatic situation and for the many victims, also in Thailand," the Vatican said in a statement.
'Traumatised' children must be priority for earthquake response - charity boss
14:10
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Barney Davis
Save the Children has said young people facing the loss and trauma of losing loved ones must be “kept safe from harm” by any earthquake response.
Jeremy Stoner, Acting Asia Regional Director at Save the Children, said in a statement that, while the charity is still assessing the situation, children must be prioritised in emergency efforts. He said: "While the extent of the earthquake damage is still unclear, we know children are the most vulnerable following disaster.
"Our teams are moving quickly to check all our staff are safe, and to respond to the emergency, but it's crucial that the international community acts now to provide support to the thousands of people in need. It will be essential that children are prioritised in any response, as they may be experiencing a natural disaster for the first time, facing trauma from loss or separation from their parents and families.
"From our experience in emergencies, we know they will need immediate shelter and should be kept safe from harm."
Hospital patients treated in the streets of Bangkok
14:02
,
Barney Davis
Patients are evacuated onto a road outside a hospital after shockwaves from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake spread to Bangkok.
'Screams and panic': Scot tourist caught in shopping mall by Myanmar earthquake
13:50
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Barney Davis
"All of a sudden the whole building began to move. Immediately there was screaming and a lot of panic," said Fraser Morton, a tourist from Scotland, who was in one of Bangkok's many malls.
"I just started walking calmly at first but then the building started really moving, yeah, a lot of screaming, a lot of panic, people running the wrong way down the escalators."
Like Morton, thousands of people poured into Benjasiri Park from nearby shopping malls, high rises and apartment buildings along Bangkok's busy Sukhumvit Road.
Many were on phones trying to reach loved ones as others sought shade from the hot early afternoon sun.
Myanmar shadow foreign minister confirms at least 12 deaths in Myanmar earthquake
13:25
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Barney Davis
In a press conference, Myanmar’s shadow foreign minister Zin Mar Aung confirmed 12 people have been killed so far after the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar.
She warned more casualties were likely in Mandalay near the epicentre of quake.
Zin Mar Aung, the top diplomat of the parallel National Unity Government, said troops from the anti-junta militias, known as the People's Defence Forces, would be providing humanitarian help.
"It's very serious, we need humanitarian and technical assistance from the international community," Zin Mar Aung said in a phone interview, adding communications was a major challenge, including internet restrictions imposed by the junta in a hard-hit area.
The earthquake has caused the collapse of Wailuwun Monastery in Taungoo, killing five displaced children and a novice, according to local reports.
Office tower 'sways for two minutes' in Bangkok
13:17
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Alex Croft
An office tower in downtown Bangkok swayed from side to side for at least two minutes, with doors and windows creaking loudly, witnesses said.
Hundreds of employees filed out via emergency stairs as some shocked and panicked workers froze. Loud shrieks could be heard as the building continued to sway.
Outside, hundreds gathered in the afternoon sun, while staff with medical kits found office chairs for the elderly and people in shock.
English tourist recalls 'screaming and panic'
13:32
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Alex Croft
Paul Vincent, a tourist visiting from England, was at a streetside bar when the quake struck.
"The next thing, everybody came on the street, so there was a lot of screaming and panicking, which obviously made it a lot worse," he said.
As he came onto the street himself, he said he saw a high-rise building swaying and water falling from a rooftop pool.
"There was people crying in the streets and, you know, the panic was horrendous really," he said.
In pictures: Rescue efforts continue at site of building collapse as sun sets in the region
13:03
,
Alex Croft
Witnesses describe panic in Bangkok after earthquake struck
12:49
,
Alex Croft
Panic took hold of Bangkok’s streets as the massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar.
Hotel guests, many still in bathrobes and swimming costumes, escaped from their luxury hotel as water cascaded down from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel, witnesses said.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended all trading activities for the Friday afternoon session.
One office tower in downtown Bangkok swayed from side to side for at least two minutes, with doors and windows creaking loudly, witnesses said.
"At first, I didn’t realise (it was an earthquake)," office worker on Varunyou Armarttayakul told Reuters.
"But then I saw the table shaking, and the chair and computer started swaying, too. I only knew for sure when I heard the noise of the cracking walls and cracking glass. Part of the ceiling even collapsed, that’s when I had to run out.”
At least 20 dead at Myanmar hospital, doctor says
12:31
,
Alex Croft
At least 20 people have died at one of Myanmar’s major hospitals in the capital of Naypyidaw, a doctor has said.
“About 20 people died after they arrived at our hospital so far. Many people were injured,” the doctor at the 1,000-bed general hospital told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The doctor requested anonymity, with casualty numbers emerging slowly from Myanmar, where there restricted access for journalists and aid workers.
Thai prime minister arrives at site of skyscraper collapse
12:28
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Alex Croft
Myanmar to begin rescue operations soon and push for humanitarian aid, state media says
12:20
,
Alex Croft
Authorities in Myanmar will push for access to disaster relief and humanitarian aid, state media has said.
Myanmar has began investigations into the damage and will conduct rescue operations as soon as possible.
Authorities are pushing for humanitarian aid access, the military-controlled Global New Light of Myanmar said, as humanitarian organisations express fears about the country’s history of denying aid.
Report: At least 8 killed as massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocks central Myanmar with tremors felt in Thailand
12:10
,
Alex Croft
At least eight people were killed after a massive earthquake of 7.7 magnitude struck Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on Friday, as rescuers raced to free dozens trapped under the rubble of a collapsed high-rise building under construction in Bangkok.
The quake struck at a depth of 10km, about 17.2km from Myanmar's second-largest city of Mandalay, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Three people died in the town of Taungoo in Myanmar after a mosque partially collapsed, according to reports. Two others died and 20 were injured after a hotel collapsed in Aung Ban.
Read the full report:
Fears that Myanmar military junta will deny aid to ravaged regions
12:01
,
Alex Croft
Fears have been raised that Myanmar’s military junta could deny aid to regions of the country ravaged by the earthquake - something they have a history of doing.
Amnesty International’s Myanmar researcher, said: “This earthquake could not come at a worse time for Myanmar.
“Central Myanmar, which is believed to be the epicentre of the earthquake, has been ravaged by military air strikes and clashes between resistance groups and the military.
“Myanmar’s military has a longstanding practice of denying aid to areas where groups who resist it are active. It must immediately allow unimpeded access to all humanitarian organizations and remove administrative barriers delaying needs assessments.”
Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the Myanmar junta has “an appalling history of blocking aid following natural disasters, depriving people of assistance and increasing the suffering of communities affected”.
Watch: Rooftop pool spills over side of skyscraper as Bangkok hit by earthquake tremors
11:49
,
Alex Croft
Earthquake survivors recall fear and chaos
11:44
,
Alex Croft
Fraser Morton, a tourist from Scotland, was in one of Bangkok’s malls when the earthquake struck.
"All of a sudden the whole building began to move. Immediately there was screaming and a lot of panic. I just started walking calmly at first but then the building started really moving, yeah, a lot of screaming, a lot of panic, people running the wrong way down the escalators, lots of banging and crashing inside the mall,” he said.
Thousands of people poured into Benjasiri Park from nearby shopping malls, high rises and apartment buildings along Bangkok's busy Sukhumvit Road.
"I got outside and then looked up at the building and the whole building was moving, dust and debris, it was pretty intense," Morton said. "Lots of chaos."
Voranoot Thirawat, a lawyer working in central Bangkok, said her first indication that something was wrong came when she saw a light swinging back and forth. Then she heard the building creaking as it moved back and forth.
She and her colleagues ran down 12 flights of stairs. "In my lifetime, there was no earthquake like this in Bangkok," she said.
Blood in high demand in Myanmar's hospitals, says military government
11:36
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Alex Croft
Blood is in high demand in Myanmar’s hospitals as medics scramble to look after the casualties following the massive earthquake earlier today.
The worst-hit areas of Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw are struggling to keep up with the amount of blood needed, Myanmar’s military government spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said.
He urged blood donors to contact hospitals as soon as possible.
The ruling military junta earlier declared a state of emergency in six regions and states, after Thailand did the same hours earlier.
"The state will make inquiries on the situation quickly and conduct rescue operations along with providing humanitarian aid," it said on Telegram.
Residents of Thailand and Myanmar reel after catastrophic earthquake
11:24
,
Alex Croft
Bangkok rail links suspended after earthquake
11:15
,
Alex Croft
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
City transport in Bangkok has been suspended on two subway lines and on the BTS Skytrain to and from the main international airport.
Worapa Angkhisirisap, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in London said: “MRT Blue and Purple Lines are temporarily suspended. BTS Skytrain is also temporarily suspended due to emergency protocols.”
In addition, the rail link to the northern suburb of Rangsit “may face delays due to structural inspections on elevated tracks”.
But, she said, both Bangkok’s airports are operating normally, with no disruption to flights.
81 people remain trapped in rubble of Bangkok building
11:11
,
Alex Croft
Thai rescuers are working to free 81 people still trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building in the Thai capital Bangkok, a Thai deputy prime minister said on Friday.
Thai defence minister Phumtham Wechachai told reporters three people have been confirmed dead.
He earlier said that 90 people were missing at the construction site. It is unclear if the figure has been revised down or if a number of people have been rescued.
UK Foreign Office warns of possible aftershocks
11:01
,
Alex Croft
Travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
The Foreign Office is warning prospective UK visitors to Myanmar: "There has been a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, the epicentre is in Sagaing region near Mandalay City, but other areas may be affected.
“Mandalay airport is reportedly closed. There may be several strong after-shocks. If you’re in the area or planning to travel there, follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media."
For Thailand, the FCDO talks of: "Strong tremors reported across Thailand and some damage reported to buildings in Bangkok."
In pictures: Religious sites in Myanmar left in rubble
10:55
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Alex Croft
Thailand's stock exchange suspends trading after Myanmar earthquake
10:41
,
Namita Singh
The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended all trading activities for the afternoon session today after a strong earthquake struck neighbouring Myanmar, the tremors of which were felt in Thailand's capital, Bangkok.
"Following the earthquake incident, the Stock Exchange of Thailand hereby announces the immediate suspension of all trading activities," the bourse operator said on its website.
"The closure affects all markets, including Set, the Market for Alternative Investment (Mai), and the Thailand Futures Exchange (Tfex), for today's afternoon session."
The benchmark Set index was last trading 1.05 per cent lower at an over one-week low of 1,175.45 points. It traded around that level most of the session as stocks remained pressured by new US auto tariffs.
Fears mount over extent of damage in Myanmar - including stability of large dams
10:38
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Alex Croft
Concern is growing about the scale of damage in Myanmar, following the massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake with an epicentre in the middle of the country.
A UN agency spokesperson has revealed that their initial reports show the centre of the country has suffered significant damage.
Several buildings across five cities have collapsed in the country’s state media has reported. Two bridges also collapsed and a major highway has been damaged.
The Red Cross organisation adds that there are concerns for the state and stability of Myanmar’s large scale dams following the quake.
“We currently have concerns for large scale dams that people are watching to see the conditions of them", Marie Manrique, Program Coordinator for the International Federation of the Red Cross said to reporters in Geneva, via video link from Yangon.
"We anticipate the impact to be quite large", she added.
Three dead and 90 missing at site of high-rise collapse
10:29
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Alex Croft
Thailand’s defense minister says that 90 people are missing and three have been confirmed dead at the site of a building collapse in Bangkok.
Dramatic videos shows the skyscraper, which was still under construction, coming crashing down in a huge plume of dust, as locals on the ground screamed and ran from the site.
Authorities previously said that 43 were missing and two had died, a figure which was revised when Phumtham Wechayachai spoke later on Friday.
Edit: Mr Wechayachai later said that rescuers were working to free 81 people from the rubble, without confirming whether the figure was revised down or whether a number
