A powerful series of earthquakes struck central Myanmar on Friday, with the strongest measuring 7.7 magnitude, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quakes, at depths of 10 to 30 km, were centered northwest of Sagaing. At least 20 deaths have been reported, though aid agencies fear the toll could rise into the hundreds or even thousands.

The Myanmar junta has declared an emergency and appealed for international aid. A mosque in Mandalay collapsed while people were praying, and a fire broke out at a university. In Naypyidaw, the capital, a 1,000-bed hospital has become a “mass casualty area.”

Tremors were felt in northern Thailand, prompting metro and rail suspensions in Bangkok. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared an emergency in the capital and called an urgent crisis meeting. China’s Yunnan province also reported severe tremors, with a local agency recording a magnitude of 7.9. India, Bangladesh, and parts of Myanmar’s border regions felt mild shocks.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed readiness to assist Myanmar, stating, “Praying for everyone’s safety.” Officials in India have been placed on high alert.

Videos on social media captured the chaos—tall buildings swayed violently in Bangkok, sending people running into the streets. A partially constructed 30-floor skyscraper collapsed in the Chatuchak area, trapping 78 workers; three deaths have been confirmed.

In Myanmar, the historic Ava Bridge over the Irrawaddy River has crumbled, and residential buildings have collapsed in Mandalay. A Buddhist monastery near Taunggyi in Shan State was also reduced to rubble.

Myanmar, located along the seismically active Sagaing Fault, has experienced major quakes before. The 2016 Bagan earthquake, at 6.8 magnitude, killed three and damaged historic temples. However, the country’s fragile healthcare system leaves rural regions especially vulnerable to disasters.

A powerful series of earthquakes struck central Myanmar on Friday, with the strongest measuring 7.7 magnitude, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quakes, at depths of 10 to 30 km, were centered northwest of Sagaing. At least 20 deaths have been reported, though aid agencies fear the toll could rise into the hundreds or even thousands.

The Myanmar junta has declared an emergency and appealed for international aid. A mosque in Mandalay collapsed while people were praying, and a fire broke out at a university. In Naypyidaw, the capital, a 1,000-bed hospital has become a “mass casualty area.”

Tremors were felt in northern Thailand, prompting metro and rail suspensions in Bangkok. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared an emergency in the capital and called an urgent crisis meeting. China’s Yunnan province also reported severe tremors, with a local agency recording a magnitude of 7.9. India, Bangladesh, and parts of Myanmar’s border regions felt mild shocks.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed readiness to assist Myanmar, stating, “Praying for everyone’s safety.” Officials in India have been placed on high alert.

Videos on social media captured the chaos—tall buildings swayed violently in Bangkok, sending people running into the streets. A partially constructed 30-floor skyscraper collapsed in the Chatuchak area, trapping 78 workers; three deaths have been confirmed.

In Myanmar, the historic Ava Bridge over the Irrawaddy River has crumbled, and residential buildings have collapsed in Mandalay. A Buddhist monastery near Taunggyi in Shan State was also reduced to rubble.

Myanmar, located along the seismically active Sagaing Fault, has experienced major quakes before. The 2016 Bagan earthquake, at 6.8 magnitude, killed three and damaged historic temples. However, the country’s fragile healthcare system leaves rural regions especially vulnerable to disasters.