A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at around 12:50 PM local time (0620 GMT), with its epicenter located 16 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of Sagaing at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The tremors were felt across northern Thailand and as far as Bangkok, where startled residents evacuated buildings and rushed into the streets. The earthquake’s impact was also reported in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, as confirmed by Beijing’s earthquake agency.
Among the significant damage caused, the historic Ava Bridge in Mandalay collapsed into the Irrawaddy River, and several buildings crumbled due to the powerful tremor.
Social media users shared alarming footage of buildings swaying violently as the earthquake struck Bangkok. Videos showed panicked residents evacuating high-rise condos and hotels, while many buildings were cleared as a safety precaution. The rare and intense tremor left people shaken as emergency responses were initiated.
