International Desk //

Two earthquakes struck Myanmar on Friday. Its impact was felt in six countries in Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh and India. More than 100 people were killed in this devastating earthquake. In addition, 70 people were reported missing. News BBC, Irrawaddy, Reuters and Anadolu

A member of the rescue team in Mandalay, Myanmar, told the BBC, “The extent of the damage is very high. The number of deaths is also very high. The exact number of casualties is not yet known, but it is more than 100.”

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7. Its epicenter was 16 kilometers north-northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar. The earthquake originated at a depth of 10 kilometers. The USGS said the earthquake, which struck at 12:20 pm local time, affected Bangladesh, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China.

The Anadolu Agency reported that 26 bodies have been recovered so far. Of these, at least 25 have died in Myanmar.

It is known that at least 20 people died when the Shwephoshing Mosque in the Mandalay region collapsed during Friday prayers and at least five displaced children died when a monastery in the city of Tanggu collapsed.

A rescue worker said that about three mosques collapsed during prayers. Many people were trapped there. At least 20 people have died. The death toll may be higher. Rescue efforts are ongoing for the trapped people.

Meanwhile, Md. Rubaiyat Kabir, the officer-in-charge of the Earthquake Observation and Research Center of the Meteorological Department, told Samakal that the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.3 on the Richter scale. Its epicenter was Mandalay, Myanmar, a country bordering Bangladesh. The epicenter was 597 kilometers from Dhaka.

Anadolu reported that one person was killed in Thailand. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring Bangladesh and China.

A 30-story building under construction collapsed in the Thai capital Bangkok, leaving 70 construction workers missing. A video circulating on social media showed the building collapsing in an instant. Another video showed water spilling from the swimming pool of the multi-story building.

Bangkok residents rushed out of high-rise buildings and gathered on the streets during the tremors. Witnesses there said the tremors were quite strong. Some metro and rail services in the city were suspended. Thai Prime Minister Phatthana Shinawatra said in a post on X that he had called an emergency meeting after the strong earthquake. Because of this, he postponed an official visit to the southern island of Phuket.

Reuters reported that many multi-story buildings collapsed in Myanmar and Thailand. Many people were trapped in them. As a result, it is feared that the number of casualties may increase further. In such a situation, the governments of Myanmar and Thailand have declared a state of emergency.

The Irrawaddy report said that a bridge from the colonial era in Myanmar collapsed in this terrible earthquake. The 91-year-old Ava Bridge that collapsed was built by the British. The bridge, also known as the Old Sagaing Bridge, spans the Irrawaddy River between Mandalay and Sagaing regions.

The intensity of the earthquake has caused the country’s roads to collapse. Public life has come to a standstill. The Mandalay Palace has also been damaged. In addition, there are reports of many buildings collapsing in other areas.

Many injured people have been taken to a major hospital in the capital of Myanmar, Naypyidaw. The earthquake has also caused problems with mobile networks. Pictures published in local media show extensive damage to buildings and roads.

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