RECAP: Latest news the Myanmar earthquake
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Fears over politicisation of aid
Amnesty International’s deputy director for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific has raised fears that aid might not reach people in Myanmar where people have been resisting the military.
Montse Ferrer told The BBC: “The military has a history of denying aid to areas where groups who resisted are active.
“They have politicised aid since the coup in February 2021.”
A hospital has been damaged in the earthquake
A hospital with space for 1000 beds in Myanmar’s capital Nyapyitaw was among the buildings that sustained damage from the earthquake today, state media reports.
The earthquake caused the collapse of buildings in five cities and towns, as well as a railway bridge and a road bridge on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, Sky News reports.
Donald Trump says “We’re going to be helping”
US President Donald Trump has confirmed he has spoken to officials in Myanmar about the impact of the earthquake.
He told reporters at the White House today: “We’re going to be helping.”
Donald Trump has said (Image: Getty Images)
Footage shows people fleeing from earthquake
Footage shows the moment people ran for their lives as they were drenched by a rooftop infinity pool slashing over during Myanmar earthquake.
Water poured onto the street from the high-rise pool in Bangkok.
It came crashing down from the top of a skyscraper in the Thai capital, reports The Sun.
In the clip, a number of people can be seen running through the streets as the first tremors are felt in the city.
Massive amount of water pouring down on people from a rooftop pool after a powerful earthquake struck.
The footage shows Bangkoku2019s Chinatown, where the quake hit today. pic.twitter.com/lUil1ZOXKC
u2014 Clash Report (@clashreport) March 28, 2025
Unicef makes a statement on the earthquake
Unicef, an agency responsible for providing aid to children across the world, today said the impact of today’s earthquake would be “devastating” for children living in Myanmar.
Trevor Clarke, Unicef’s emergency advisor for the region, said the country is “one of the most difficult places on the planet for children.”
He added today’s earthquake “only compounds their dire situation.”
Search and rescue workers arrive to conduct rescue work (Image: Getty Images)
Student checking phone for updates on family
Student Myat Hsu Paing said she has been checking her phone every minute to see how her friends and family are doing.
The Aston University student told BBC Newsbeat: “I reached out to my mum and she didn’t pick up the first two calls.”
She has since said her family are safe.
“Every minute I’m checking my phone in case I’ve got a message from her,” Myat said. “I feel really worried.”
Death toll rises to 180
The Spectator Index has announced at least 180 people have died in Myanmar with the death toll expected to rise.
Hundreds of people have also been injured after the earthquake struck earlier this morning.
Bodies recovered from a collapsed block of flats
A rescue worker in Mandalay, Myanmar, has said the bodies of 30 people have been recovered from a collapsed block of flats.
He told the Reuters news agency: “I have never experienced anything like this before – our town looks like a collapsed city.
“We received calls for help from people from the inside, but we cannot help because we do not have enough manpower and machines to remove the debris, but we will not stop working.”
Rescue operations are underway in Myanmar (Image: Getty Images)
Tourist recalls moment of panic when earthquake started
Scottish tourist Fraser Morton told the Associated Press “panic” broke out while he was out shopping for camera equipment at a Bangkok shopping centre.
He said: “All of a sudden the whole building began to move, immediately there was screaming and a lot of panic. I got outside and then looked up at the building and the whole building was moving, dust and debris, it was pretty intense.”
Myanmar at risk of liquefaction – what does this mean?
In the aftermath of an earthquake, “liquefaction” can continue to cause damage to buildings and infrastructure, which the US Geological Survey (USGS) says could become a significant issue in Myanmar.
Liquefaction is the process by which water-saturated soil loses its strength and behaves like a liquid during earthquakes, according to the USGS.
There is also a significant risk of a landslide, the organisation says.
The area has already suffered significant damage (Image: Getty Images)
Blood donations have been called for to help the injured
With many people injured, an urgent appeal for blood donations has been issued.
Myanmar’s ruling junta has called for the donations along with medical supplies from those able to help.
Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson of the military government, called for donations in a late-night news bulletin on state television after “so many” injuries in three urban centres.
Red Cross statement – ‘countless lives affected’
The Red Cross has released a statement on the earthquake.
Teams from the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) have responded immediately, taking part in lifesaving search-and-rescue operations and working to connect hospitals and clinics with emergency blood donations, it writes.
MRCS responders are assessing the situation, but face challenges accessing affected areas, with electricity and network lines down in Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Southern Shan state.
British Red Cross Chief Executive Officer Béatrice Butsana-Sita said: “While the extent of the damage is still emerging, it’s clear that countless lives have been affected across Myanmar and beyond.
“Red Cross teams are already responding on the ground. They have been taking part in lifesaving search and rescue operations as well as helping to connect hospitals and clinics with emergency blood donations. They will continue to do their utmost to help those affected in the coming hours, days and weeks.
“If you can, please donate to help us provide vital humanitarian support when people need it most.”
To donate, visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund, or call 0300 023 0814.
Red Cross statement – ‘countless lives affected’ (Image: Getty)
144 dead and 732 injured in Myanmar, state broadcaster says
The Myanmar military junta have released their first official figures after today’s earthquake.
At least 144 people have died in Myanmar, the country’s state television network said on Telegram.
It also says that 732 people have been injured by the earthquake and aftershocks.
The head of the junta added that there will be more deaths and casualties.
Pope Francis sends prayers to victims
Pope Francis has offered his prayers for the victims of the powerful earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand, the Vatican press office said.
In a telegram published by the Vatican, Francis said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread devastation” caused by the earthquake.
He offered prayers for those who died and for emergency workers.
The 88-year-old is recovering at home after five weeks in hospital with life-threatening double pneumonia.
Pope Francis has offered his prayers for the victims. (Image: Getty)
Worst earthquake in Myanmar since 1946
Friday’s earthquake is the worst to hit Myanmar since 1946.
Just under 80 years ago, central Burma was struck with a 7.3 magnitude quake, followed by another, 7.7 magnitude quake.
Both the mainshock and aftershock occurred along the Sagaing Fault – the same fault responsible for today’s earthquake.
Resident fears ‘a lot of bad news’ will emerge when telecom services resume
A resident in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city and commercial hub, about 289 miles from the epicentre near Mandalay, has shared his experience.
Wishing to remain anonymous because of the country’s military regime, he told the BBC he was “shaken” after feeling the earthquake last for more than a minute just after 12:50 local time (06:50 GMT).
After a three-hour country-wide power outage, he said power has now been restored and there does not appear to be any major damage other than “minor cracks”.
In Mandalay, he says power is still out and two major telecom companies appear to have been offline for much of the day.
Photos of multi-storey buildings collapsing in Mandalay, he said, “paints a very grim picture of what’s to come”.
“There’s a lot of bad news that will come out of Mandalay once the telecoms are back up and running,” he said, adding it’s the “last thing Myanmar needs right now”.
British tourist though quake was effects from the film she was watching
A British tourist on holiday in Bangkok said she initially thought the tremors from an earthquake which struck the region were effects from the film she was watching.
Mandy Tang, 38, from London, was in a cinema in Bangkok on holiday when she experienced the tremors from the powerful earthquake.
She told the PA news agency: “I was watching a film called The Red Envelope. It happened to be quite an action-packed scene when the shake happened, so I initially thought it could have been Imax effect.“I looked around and none of the local audience left their seats. However, my Taiwanese friend insisted it’s an earthquake, so I walked out of the theatre with her, and we met the security guards coming to evacuate us just outside the theatre. We could see the doors were opening and closing, all the chairs were shaking.”Ms Tang said she was trying to get a car back to her hotel, adding: “Basically I’m tired and I’m trying to get back.“It was quite nerve wracking, I’ve never experienced such a strong shake. It is quite scary.”
Brit in Bangkok earthquake details horror moment ‘cracks appeared in building’
To read about a British tourist’s terrifying ordeal in Bangkok, click on this link.
My colleague Lauran O’Toole has spoken to Jaine Brent, a PR consultant.
Brit in Bangkok earthquake details horror moment ‘cracks appeared in building’ (Image: Jaine Brent)
Injuries and damaged buildings reported in China
The earthquake was felt in the southern Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China.
It has caused damage to houses and injuries in the city of Ruili on the border with Myanmar, according to Chinese media reports.
Very little information coming from Myanmar – why?
Getting information out of Myanmar is difficult, even under normal conditions.
Before the quake on Friday, tens of thousands of people live without electricity on a daily basis and there is limited access to the internet.
Mobile lines have also been unreliable since the quake struck.
Foreign journalists are also rarely allowed to enter officially due to a lack of press freedom.
Myanmar has been in a state of civil war since 2021 and suffers from a severe food crisis and a declining economy.
It may be a while before we know the full extent of the disaster in Myanmar.
Why has this earthquake happened?
Earthquakes arise when huge slabs of rock that make up the Earth’s crust – tectonic plates – move against each other.
This devestating quake Mandalay occurred as the result of “strike slip faulting” between the India and Eurasia plates, the USGS explains on its website. This means that the two plates rubbed sideways against each other.
The quake occured on what’s known as the Sagaing fault, which marks the tectonic plate boundary between the two plates.
Myanmar earthquake MAPPED
The earthquake originated northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2mi).
For more detailed analysis of the earthquake, click here.
Myanmar earthquake mapped. (Image: USGS)
At least 12 dead in Myanmar earthquake – shadow foreign minister
Myanmar’s shadow foreign minister Zin Mar Aung confirmed in a press conference that 12 people have been killed so far by the earthquake.
She warned that more casualties are likey to emerge near the quake’s epicentre in Mandalay.
“It’s very serious, we need humanitarian and technical assistance from the international community,” the minister said.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) have estimated that tens of thousands of people could have died. Read more about the death toll here.
WHO triggers emergency system – ‘very very big threat to life and health’
The World Heath Organization said it had triggered its emergency management system in response to Friday’s “huge” earthquake in Myanmar.
It was mobilising its logistics hub in Dubai to prepare trauma injury supplies.
They describe it as an event with “clearly a very, very big threat to life and health”.
“We’ve activated our logistics hub to look particularly for trauma supplies and things like external fixators because we expect that there will be many, many injuries that need to be dealt with,” said spokeswoman Margaret Harris, adding that they would focuse on sending essential medicines .
Harris said that due to recent experience with the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, “we know very well what you need to send in first”.
“We are ready to move in – but now we have to know exactly where, what and why. It’s information from the ground that’s really critical right now.”
Residents can return home, says Thai PM
The situation in Thailand is “starting to ease” and people can safely return indoors, the Thai prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has said.
Schools were closed nationwide and an “emergency zone” created in Bangkok.
“We want to reassure the public that the aftershocks following this event will not pose a significant threat. Residents of high-rise buildings that sustained minor damage can safely return to their residences,” she said.
So far, three people have been reported to have died after a building under construction collapsed. Rescue crews are still working to free 81 people who remain trapped under the rubble.
Residents can return home, says Thai PM. (Image: Getty)
Latest pictures from Myanmar and Thailand
We bring you some of the latest pictures coming from Myanmar and Thailand, six hours after the devestaing earthquake hit.
Latest pictures from Myanmar and Thailand (Image: Getty)
Latest pictures from Myanmar and Thailand (Image: Getty)
Earthquake ‘could not have come at a worse time’
The earthquake “could not have come at a worse time” for Myanmar, Amnesty International has warned.
Around one-third of the country’s population is already in need of humanitarian aid as a result of the civil war which has gripped the country for the past four years.
“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,” said Joe Freeman, Amnesty’s Myanmar researcher.
Myanmar has faced a civil war for the past four years. (Image: Getty)
Terrifying video shows water spilling from rooftop pool
A different video posted on social media shows the terrifying ordeal shared by people from the roof of a skyscraper in Bangkok.
The building can be seen shaking and water from the rooftop infinity pool spilling over the sides and down the steps. It’s more reminiscent of a rough sea than a luxurious pool.
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#u0e41u0e1cu0e48u0e19u0e14u0e34u0e19u0e44u0e2bu0e27 pic.twitter.com/tIwvmz2X0Du2014 oyasumi (@msuhcoff) March 28, 2025
UK FCDO shares emergency contact numbers for Brits in Myanmar and Thailand
The British FCDO has shared which numbers Brits in Myanmar and Thailand should contact if they have been affected by the earthquake and are in need of urgent assistance.
British nationals in Myanmar should contact: +95 (01) 370 863/4/5/7
British nationals in Thailand should contact: +6623058333
British nationals in Myanmar or Thailand who are in need of urgent assistance as a result of the earthquake can contact us 24/7.
u260eufe0f British nationals in Myanmar: +95 (01) 370 863/4/5/7
u260eufe0f British nationals in Thailand: +6623058333 pic.twitter.com/6RnySAWBUN
u2014 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) March 28, 2025
81 workers trapped as Thailand’s PM visits scene of collapsed building
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is visiting the area where 81 workers are trapped following the collapse of a building prompted by the earthquake.
The politician had already spoken to the press earlier this morning, calling for calm following an emergency meeting focused on the quake.
No warning system caused panic in Thailand
There are said to have been no phone alerts for the earthquake in Thailand, Sky News reported.
When asked how prepared Thailand is for natural disasters, Asia correspondent Cordelia Lynch said it is “still a country reeling from that devastating tsunami 20 years ago”.
“One of the things I was discussing with people in the hard-hit coastal areas was the importance of a warning system,” she added.
“What is hard to believe at this stage… there were no phone alerts that we were aware of.”
While the Thai government has responded by calling for the immediate introduction of a mobile phone alert system, “immediate panic”, ensued following the earthquake.
Footage shows people covered in dust escaping collapsed mosque in Myanmar
Footage on social media shows the damage at the site of a collapsed mosque in Myanmar.
This video, taken from outside the Shwe Bone Shein mosque in Mandalay, show people covered in dust climbing out of the mosque amongst rubble.
Muslims are currently observing Ramadan, with Eid – a celebration marking the holy month’s end – in just two days.
Human rights organisations beg Myanmar military junta to allow them access
Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch have both called for Myanmar’s military junta to allow humanitarian access.
The military seized power in a coup in 2021, prompting widespread opposition from the public and plunging the country into conflict. It has repeatedly been accused of blocking aid to areas where its opponents are active.
Earlier today, the junta made a rare call for international help as it declared a widespread state of emergency.
Amnesty International said: has called for Myanmar’s military junta to allow “unimpeded access to all humanitarian organisations”.
“The Myanmar junta should immediately facilitate humanitarian access to areas affected by the earthquake,” said Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a separate statement.
“The military has an appalling history of blocking aid following natural disasters, depriving people of assistance and increasing the suffering of communities affected.”
EU ‘ready’ to provide support after earthquake
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is ready to help.
“Heartbreaking scenes from Myanmar and Thailand after the devastating earthquake. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” von der Leyen wrote on X.
She added: “Europe’s Copernicus satellites are already helping first responders. We are ready to provide more support.”
Heartbreaking scenes from Myanmar and Thailand after the devastating earthquake.
My thoughts are with the victims & their families.
Europe’s Copernicus satellites are already helping first responders.
We are ready to provide more support.
We stand with you in full solidarity. https://t.co/J7tX7ZJZrF
u2014 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 28, 2025
Thailand orders closure of schools nationwide
“The Ministry of Education has ordered the closure of all schools nationwide, instructing students to return home,” said Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Commerce.
The closure has been ordered while authorities assess the damage.
Phumtham added that such an event has “never happened in 100 years.”
Thai authorities are urging people in high-rise buildings “to evacuate immediately” following the collapse of a building in Bangkok which has killed at least three people.
19 dead at Mandalay Hospital, hundreds of Myanma deaths expected
At least 200 people are already at the main hospital in Mandalay, The Telegraph has reported.
Dr Yan Naing revealed that 19 people have died so far due to the earthquake.
“There aren’t enough doctors and space,” he said.
“Patients are scattered inside the hospital. So far, 19 people have died here due to the earthquake. Across Myanmar, I believe the death toll will be in the hundreds.”
Latest on death toll
Thousands are feared dead after the huge earthquake.
The USGS forecast a death toll between 1,000 and 10,000 earlier this morning.
According to the USGS website, the earthquake, with its epicentre near Mandalay, has been given a IX intensity rating, with violent shaking and heavy damage.
“Red alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses,” the website explains. “High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread.
“Past red alerts have required a national or international response.”
Latest on death toll (Image: USGS)
Myanmar earthquake magnitude explained
The Thai Meteorological Department confirmed that an 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the USGS has maintained a magnitude of 7.7.
The Richter scale, or local magnitude scale, measures the amplitude of seismic waves recorded on a seismograph, providing a measure of earthquake size.
Hundreds feared dead in Myanmar
A member of a rescue team based in Mandalay, Myanmar, has said “the damage is enormous”.
“The number of deaths is also quite high. That’s all we can say right now because the rescue efforts are ongoing,” they told the BBC.
“The exact number of casualties is not yet known, but it is at least in the hundreds.”
Construction worker describes ‘scariest experience I’ve ever had’
Sompon, who has worked in construction in Thailand for 16 years and has been at the site of the collapsed building for a month has described the scene.
“It’s indescribable. I’m speechless,” he told the Telegraph. “Because all the dust is coming everywhere, we could see only dust. I run out as fast as I could, to be safe.
“This is the scariest experience I’ve ever had.”
Workers are said to be caked in a thick white dust.
70 construction workers missing at site of collapsed building, 20 trapped
70 construction workers are now missing at the site of a collapsed building site, the National Institute for Emergency Medicine in Thailand has said.
In a post on Facebook, it adds there were around 320 workers on the site at the time of the collapse and 20 are trapped in the lift shafts.
The number of deaths is unclear, and a field hospital has been set up at the scene as rescuers continue to look for survivors.
70 construction workers missing at site of collapsed building (Image: Getty)
Three dead in Bangkok, Thai minister says
Three people have died in Bangkok after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake today, the Thai defence minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has confirmed.
Phumtham Wechayachai said the fatalities were confirmed at the site where an under-construction high rise collapsed.
Naypyidaw airports shut
Khit Thit Media has said that the air traffic control tower in Naypyidaw collapsed due to the earthquake.
Ticketing hotlines in Myanmar have said the airports are now shut.
Trapped people heard screaming in Bangkok
A police chief in Bangkok has said that he could hear people screaming from within the debris of the collapsed 30-storey building.
“I heard people calling for help, saying help me,” Worapat Sukthai, deputy police chief of Bangkok’s Bang Sue district, told AFP. “We estimate that hundreds of people are injured but we are still determining the number of casualties.
“I fear many lives have been lost. We have never experienced an earthquake with such a devastating impact before.”
India ready to offer ‘all possible assistance,’ says PM Modi
India is willing to send assistance to Myanmar following Friday’s massive earthquake, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
“Concerned by the situation in the wake of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand,” Modi said on X. “India stands ready to offer all possible assistance.”
Authorities in India and Bangladesh have reported no major impact from the quake.
Concerned by the situation in the wake of the Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Praying for the safety and wellbeing of everyone. India stands ready to offer all possible assistance. In this regard, asked our authorities to be on standby. Also asked the MEA to remain in touchu2026
u2014 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 28, 2025
Thailand’s death toll rises to three
The death toll in Thailand has been raised to three after a building collapsed in Bangkok.
Rescue worker Songwut Wangpon told reporters another seven people had been found alive in the rubble from the under-construction skycraper.
Red Cross struggling to respond in Myanmar
The Red Cross has reported that its teams are attempting to respond to “significant damage” in Myanmar – but are facing challenges due to a lack of power in the affected areas.
The humanitarian organisation says electricity and network lines are down in the Mandalay and Sagaing areas.
Despite this, the Red Cross says it’s continuing to gather information on “humanitarian needs” as a result of the damage.
British tourist recalls ‘a lot of panic’ at Bangkok mall
Fraser Morton, a Scottish tourist in Bangkok as the earthquake struck, said there was “a lot of screaming, a lot of panic”.
He was in a shopping mall looking for camera equipment when “all of a sudden the whole building began to move”.
“Immediately, there was screaming and a lot of panic,” he told AP News.
“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.”
Thai capital declared disaster area after quake
Thailand’s capital has been declared a disaster area after the powerful earthquake hit in neighbouring Myanmar, Bangkok city hall has said.
The Bangkok governor has been placed in charge of coordinating the disaster response, it said, according to Reuters.
Three reported dead after partial collapse of Myanmar mosque
Three people have died after a mosque in Myanmar partially collapsed when a strong earthquake struck the Southeast Asian nation on Friday, Reuters reported.
Two have also been killed after an under-construction building collapsed in the Thai capital of Bangkok, according to emergency responds at the scene.
Stunning Buddha Temple in Mandalay, Myanmar collapses
New social media pictures reveal that the stunning Mahamuni Pagoda Buddhist temple and major pilgrimage site in Mandalay, Myanmar has collapsed.
It is highly worshiped in Burma and central to many people’s lives.
Stunning Buddha Temple in Mandalay, Myanmar collapses (Image: Getty)
91-year-old bridge in Myanmar collapses
The 91-year-old Ava Bridge, or Old Sagaing Bridge, which spanned the Irrawaddy River between Mandalay and Sagaing regions, has collapsed, according to new footage.
The 91-year-old Ava Bridge, or Old Sagaing Bridge, which spanned the Irrawaddy River between Mandalay and Sagaing regions and was built by British colonizers, collapsed Friday during a powerful earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand. Video: CJ #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar#Myanmaru2026 pic.twitter.com/dczbyDYa92
u2014 The Irrawaddy (Eng) (@IrrawaddyNews) March 28, 2025
Passengers take cover and evacuate Myanmar’s Mandalay airport
Passengers at Myanmar’s Mandalay Airport crouched down on the tarmac as the powerful earthquake struck near the city, according to social media videos.
Other videos show airport staff helping dozens of passengers evacuate as loud alarm bells rang out.
Myanmar quake may trigger tsunami
The earthquake in Myanmar on Friday may trigger a local tsunami.
However, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources said the tsunami will not affect the coastal areas of China, said China Central Television.
Infinity pool ‘turns into waterfall’ amid earthquake
Several videos are now circulating on social media showing the effect the tremor had on buildings and infrastructure.
One clip shows an infinity pool at the top of a skyscraper being shaken so much it spills water and seemingly turns itself into a waterfall.
Two dead after Bangkok building collapse
At least two people are dead after a building collapse in the Thai capital of Bangkok, according to emergency responds at the scene.
An unknown number of others are still under the rubble. Rescue worker Songwut Wangpon told reporters another seven people had been found alive.
The building was under construction, set to become government offices.
Myanmar hospital damaged – casualties treated outside
A hospital emergency department was damaged by the earthquake as scores of wounded casualties are treated outside.
Myanmar hospital damaged (Image: Getty)
More images from Bangkok – dozens of emergency workers on scene
More pictures from Bangkok show dozens of emergency vehicles and personnel on the streets following the quake.
More images from Bangkok – dozens of emergency workers on scene (Image: Getty)
More images from Bangkok – dozens of emergency workers on scene (Image: Getty)
Thousands may be dead in Myanmar, says US agency
The US Geological Survey has written on its website that thousands of deaths in Myanmar are likely, given the apparent scale of the earthquake.
“High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread”.
It has issued a red alert, listing the affected countries as Bangladesh, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China.
Unconfirmed local media reports of at least ten worshippers dead at Myanmar mosque
At least ten people were killed when the earthquake struck Shwe Phone Shein mosque during prayers today, rescue workers told local media.
The mosque is said to have collapsed during worship and people are believed to be trapped.
The death toll could be much higher, however, a rescue worker helping with the mosque collapse said.
The news was reported by Myanamar-based news agency Khit Thit Media and the Yangon Times newspaper, as well as smaller media outlets.
The reports remain unconfirmed.
Pictures from Bangkok and Myanmar in wake of earthquake
We have more pictures coming in of the extent of damage to buildings in both Myanmar and Bangkok.
Pictures from Bangkok and Myanmar in wake of earthquake (Image: Getty)
Pictures from Bangkok and Myanmar in wake of earthquake (Image: Getty)
Myanmar declares state of emergency in six regions.
According to the BBC, military leadership in Myanmar has declared a state of emergency in six regions, highlighting the scale of the disaster.
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has reportedly arrived at a hospital in Naypyidaw which has apparently been designated a “mass casualty area” amid growing fears of a major loss of life.
One dead, one missing and 50 injured in Bangkok building collapse
One person was killed and 50 others were injured after a high-rise building that was under construction collapsed in Bangkok’s capital following the powerful quake that hit neighboring Myanmar on Friday, according to Thai authorities.
One person remains trapped under the rubble after the high-rise building in Chatuchak Park collapsed, Bangkok’s National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) said.
What’s happening in Myanmar?
Photos and accounts are slowly coming in from Myanmar, which has been facing a civil war since 2021.
The state controls almost all of local radio, television, print and online media. Internet use is also restricted.
Early reports in Myanmar indicate extensive damage. In the city of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, large parts of the walls of the old city compound are seen to have collapsed.
Speaking to Reuters, an officer from the Myanmar Fire Services Department said: “We have started the search and going around Yangon to check for casualties and damage. So far, we have no information yet.”
The earthquake originated northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar. A 6.4 magnitude aftershock was felt around 12 minutes later near Mandalay, the USGS added.
Swimming pools become waterfalls as earthquake hits
Videos posted on social media show water pouring down the sides of skyrise buildings in Thailand from rooftop swimming pools.
Thai deputy PM says no state of emergency declared
The Thai deputy prime minister has said no state of emergency has been declared in Bangkok, despite some earlier news reports.
Anutin Charnvirakul said the situation remains serious after the earthquakes in Myanmar.
Why have buildings collapses in Myanmar and Thailand?
The USGS has said that buildings in Myanmar and Thailand are especially vulnerable to the effects of earthquakes: “Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist.
“The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and unreinforced brick masonry construction.”
Early reports in Myanmar indicate extensive damage. In the city of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, large parts of the walls of the old city compound are seen to have collapsed.
Resident shares her experience
“I heard it and I was sleeping in the house, I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building,” Duangjai, a resident of popular tourist city Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, told AFP.
43 people trapped in Bangkok skyscraper collapse
At least 43 workers are trapped in a Bangkok skyscraper after the earthquake, according to reports from Thai media.
Workers are in the process of being evacuated.
43 people trapped in Bangkok skyscraper collapse (Image: Getty)
‘Emergency zone’ declared in Thailand
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn has declared a Bangkok “emergency zone,” advising people to evacuate tall buildings due to possible aftershocks.
The prime minister was in the city of Phuket for a meeting at the time of the quake.
Social media posts show the extent of the damage
One video of a building site posted on X this morning showed large building completely collapsing as workers ran for safety. Another showed water from a rooftop swimming pool pouring down the sides of the building.
Where has the earthquake hit?
The earthquake originated kilometres northwest of Sagaing, Myanmar, at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
A 6.4 magnitude aftershock was felt around 12 minutes later near Mandalay, the USGS added.
Where has the earthquake hit? (Image: Google)
Where has the earthquake hit? (Image: Getty)
Welcome to the Live Blog
Good morning and welcome to this live blog as we watch the developments of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that has hit Myanmar this morning.
Follow along for updates.
Margarete Pingree
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