Death toll rises as a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Thailand and neighboring Myanmar on Friday, causing a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok to collapse.
Thai emergency responders confirmed two fatalities, with an unknown number of people still trapped under the rubble. A dramatic video shared on social media captured the moment the multi-story building, which had a crane on top, crumbled into a cloud of dust as bystanders screamed and fled.
According to AFP, the 30-story skyscraper, intended for government offices, collapsed in Bangkok, trapping 43 workers, further increasing the toll Authorities have declared Bangkok a disaster area in the aftermath of the quake.
The earthquake, with its epicenter in Myanmar, also caused significant damage in the region. In Myanmar’s Sagaing region, southwest of Mandalay, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed, and sections of the highway linking Mandalay and Yangon were damaged. In Naypyitaw, religious shrines were partially destroyed, with some structures toppling to the ground.
Thai police said they were responding to the collapse near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak Market but did not yet have details on the number of workers present at the time. The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended all trading for the afternoon session due to the earthquake’s impact.
Tremors were also felt in eastern India, with mild shocks reported in Kolkata and Imphal. In Manipur’s Thangal Bazar, where several old multi-story buildings stand, residents panicked, but authorities reported no damage. The earthquake’s epicenter was approximately 50 km east of Monywa, Myanmar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the disaster and assured India’s readiness to assist Myanmar and Thailand. “Praying for the safety and wellbeing of everyone,” Modi posted on X, adding that Indian authorities were on standby to provide aid.
Additionally, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake was felt across parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram, though no casualties have been reported so far.
