Powerful Earthquake Rocks Myanmar
TNS NEWS TEAM
NAY PYI TAW – A cataclysmic 7.7-magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter near Sagaing, Myanmar, unleashed devastating force across Southeast Asia on March 28th, profoundly reshaping the regional landscape.
The seismic event, followed swiftly by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, wrought havoc in Myanmar, Thailand, and even parts of Vietnam, leaving behind a trail of collapsed structures, ruptured infrastructure, and immense human suffering.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake’s magnitude and shallow depth, highlighting the potent energy released from the Sagaing epicenter. The impact was immediate and widespread.
In Thailand’s bustling capital, Bangkok, the earthquake’s force brought down a 30-story building under construction. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai reported at least three fatalities, with rescue teams tirelessly working to free dozens more trapped beneath the rubble.
The destruction within Myanmar was equally severe. The Yangon Times reported the collapse of Naypyitaw airport’s air traffic control tower, resulting in the loss of all personnel. Key government buildings, including the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Labour, also succumbed to the quake’s force, claiming numerous lives.
A team of journalists at the National Museum in Naypyitaw witnessed the terror firsthand, describing falling debris and the panicked exodus of staff. Roads buckled and fractured, hindering emergency response efforts, and hospitals were overwhelmed, becoming “mass casualty areas.”
Myanmar’s ruling junta, in a rare move, issued a plea for international humanitarian aid and declared a state of emergency across six regions. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing visited a Naypyitaw hospital, witnessing the scale of the disaster.
The tremors sent shockwaves across the region, triggering widespread panic. In Bangkok, metro and light rail services were disrupted, and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared a state of emergency. The Stock Exchange of Thailand suspended trading for the afternoon. While flights continued, the overall impact on the region’s infrastructure and stability was significant.
The earthquake’s force has undeniably reshaped the regional landscape, leaving behind a legacy of destruction and prompting a unified response from the international community.
TNS NEWS