A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked central Myanmar, unleashing widespread devastation and panic. The quake has claimed at least 4 lives, trapped over 50 people under the rubble, and sent tremors coursing through major cities, including Bangkok, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
There has been no immediate word from Myanmar authorities on damage.
An officer from the Myanmar Fire Services Department told Reuters: "We have started the search and going around Yangon to check for casualties and damage. So far, we have no information yet."
Social media posts from Mandalay, Myanmar's ancient royal capital that is at the centre of its Buddhist heartland, showed collapsed buildings and debris strewn across streets of the city. Reuters could not immediately verify the posts.
Myanmar Earthquake History
Here is a list of earthquakes that struck several places in Myanmar over the last two decades.
2023
According to USGS, a moderate earthquake of 4.8 on the Richter scale, centered at a depth of 16 kilometers near Maubin took place at 4:24 p.m. on June 7 2024 and it damaged several buildings and killed three people.
2017
According to the Times of India a 6.8 magnitude earthquake had hit central Myanmar on August 24, 2017 which caused several property damages including the pagodas situated in the ancient city of Bagan and killed at least one person.
Tremors were felt in neighbouring countries like Thailand, Bangladesh and India.
2016
Another eathquake of 6.8 magnitude hit Chauk in Myanmar and it was centered at 58 km. The quake killed four people and damaged properties.
2012
A strong earthquake struck northern Burma in 2012 which left 12 people dead.
The Guardian reported the magnitude of the quake was 6.8 on richter scale and it struck Naypyitaw. Reportedly, the area surrounding the epicentre is a centre for mining of minerals and gemstones, and several mines were reported to have collapsed.
Reportedly, six people had died in the Sintku township and another 11 were injured. An official said some of the dead were miners who were killed when a gold mine collapsed.
2011
Another strong earthquake hit north-east Burma in 2011 which killed at least 65 people, reported The Guardian.
The quake was measured at a magnitude 6.8 by the US Geological Survey, was centred just north of the town of Tachileik in the mountains along the Thai border, but was felt hundreds of miles away in the Thai capital, Bangkok, and the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
Burma state radio had announced that 65 people had been killed and 111 injured in the quake. It also reported that 244 houses, 14 Buddhist monasteries and nine government buildings were damaged.
