BREAKING NEWS: A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake has struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, killing at least 23 people and collapsing buildings and the death toll is still rising.
Watch the videos below.
The disaster has exposed the vulnerabilities of nations unprepared for such catastrophic events, while Myanmar’s military junta is now forced to seek international aid despite previously rebuffing outside assistance.
The powerful quake struck central Myanmar today, with its epicenter near Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake had a relatively shallow depth of just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), magnifying its destructive potential across the region.
Myanmar authorities have declared a state of emergency in six regions, including the capital, Naypyitaw and Mandalay, as they struggle to respond to the widespread devastation.
Reports indicate that at least 20 people have died in Myanmar, while three fatalities have been confirmed in Thailand.
In Bangkok, a high-rise building under construction catastrophically collapsed during the quake, trapping approximately 70 people and killing at least three.
Emergency services report that 20 workers remain trapped in an elevator shaft as rescue operations continue.
Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Police are assisting with evacuations throughout the city, and public transportation systems have been completely shut down.
The earthquake unleashed chaos across Thailand’s capital as alarms blared and thousands fled swaying buildings.
One eyewitness described the terrifying moments: “All of a sudden the whole building began to move. Immediately there was screaming and a lot of panic.”
Making matters worse, a powerful 6.4-magnitude aftershock followed the initial quake, further terrorizing residents and complicating rescue efforts.
The earthquake’s destructive path included severe damage to the former royal palace in Mandalay and a collapsed bridge in Myanmar’s Sagaing region.
In a rare admission of weakness, Myanmar’s military junta has called for international humanitarian aid.
This represents a stunning reversal for a government that has routinely rejected foreign assistance while brutally suppressing its own citizens during the ongoing civil war.
The junta’s sudden request for help revealed the crisis’s severity and inability to handle it alone.
In addition, the earthquake has left many victims without help as communication and electricity outages hamper rescue operations.
One survivor shared her heartbreaking experience: “I tried to run to her, but before I could, bricks fell on me too.”
The impact has even reached China, with damage and injuries reported in the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.
Experts note this earthquake is stronger than many historic American disasters, including the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California.
As American aid organizations prepare to respond, questions remain about whether the Trump administration will assist a military junta that has been sanctioned for human rights abuses.
🚨🇹🇭🇲🇲SKYSCRAPER COLLAPSES IN BANGKOK AFTER MYANMAR EARTHQUAKE
An under-construction skyscraper collapsed after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar.
In the Thai capital, hundreds of people poured out onto the streets after the tremors, with many buildings… https://t.co/GVT4HJrkM8 pic.twitter.com/nOCEP9PFtn
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 28, 2025
