Building violently rocked by 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar & Thailand

BANGKOK – A 7.7 magnitude earthquake and an aftershock measuring 6.4 rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, destroying buildings, a bridge and a dam.

At least 144 people were killed in Myanmar, the head of the military government said in the televised speech.

“The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said, adding that more than 700 people had been injured.

At least six died in the Thai capital, where a high-rise under construction collapsed. Damage was also reported in China.

The quake struck in the early afternoon, sending people streaming out of buildings and seeking shelter anywhere they could find it from the blazing sun.

Myanmar’s military-run government has declared a state of emergency in six regions.

Here is the latest:

Malaysia will deploy disaster relief teams to Yangon in Myanmar

Malaysia will deploy a 50-member humanitarian assistance and disaster relief team to Yangon, Myanmar on Sunday, led by a contingent commander and 49 rescue personnel. This replaces the previously planned staggered deployment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassy of Malaysia in Yangon are facilitating the arrangements and will support operations on the ground.

Malaysia’s government said it will deploy disaster relief teams to Yangon ifollowing massive quakes in that country, Thailand and parts of southern China that killed more than 150 people and trapped scores under rubble.

China, Russia and India dispatch rescuers to Myanmar

China, Russia and India dispatched rescuers to Myanmar, which was rocked by a powerful earthquake that caused extensive damage.

A 37-member team from China’s Yunnan province reached the city of Yangon early Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The team carried emergency relief supplies such as life detectors, earthquake early warning systems and drones, Xinhua said, and the team is expected to provide assistance in disaster relief and medical treatment efforts.

Russia’s emergencies ministry dispatched two planes carrying 120 rescuers and supplies, according to a report from Russia state news agency Tass.

“Based on orders from the Russian president and emergencies minister, a group of Russian rescuers has departed to Myanmar on two planes from Zhukovsky Airport outside Moscow to help address the aftermath of a powerful earthquake,” Tass reported that a ministry spokesperson said.

India dispatched a search and rescue team and a medical team as well as blankets, tarpaulin, hygiene kits, sleeping bags, solar lamps, food packets and kitchen sets, the country’s foreign minister posted on X.

Most of Bangkok metro and light rail resumes operation normally

Most of Bangkok metro and light rail had resumed operation normally on Saturday morning, according to their operators, although two light rail lines remained closed pending further inspection.

Friday’s powerful earthquake shook Myanmar, causing extensive damage and prompting officials to warn that the initial death toll — above 140 — was likely to grow. In neighboring Thailand, at least six died in Bangkok, where a high-rise under construction collapsed.

Bangkok lowers death toll to 6

Bangkok city authorities have revised the number of people killed in Friday’s earthquake down to six, along with 22 people injured and 101 missing.

The previous death toll late Friday was 10. Authorities said they lowered the toll because first responders had mistaken some critical cases at the scene as being dead, but when they reached the hospital they could be resuscitated.

The powerful earthquake also rocked neighboring Myanmar, causing extensive damage across a wide swath of one of the world’s poorest countries and prompting officials to warn that the initial death toll — above 140 — was likely to grow in the days ahead.

Author: WPLG Local 10
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News post in at: March 30, 2025, 4:00 am.

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