Devastating Earthquake Strikes Central Myanmar
A powerful earthquake registering a magnitude of 7.7 struck central Myanmar on Friday, unleashing shock waves that reverberated across a vast region of Southeast Asia. This seismic event caused fatalities and significant destruction hundreds of miles away from its epicenter.
Buildings were shaken in neighboring countries, including Thailand and China, while the tremors were felt as far away as Vietnam. Reports indicate that at least 23 individuals have lost their lives, and as rescue operations continue, this death toll is expected to rise, particularly in Myanmar, where a growing number of injured are being transported to hospitals in the nation’s second-largest city, Mandalay.
While the extent of the damage in Thailand and other affected countries is gradually being assessed, the flow of information from Myanmar has been hampered by censorship imposed by the military government in power.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Where was the epicenter of the earthquake?
- Which countries have been impacted by this natural disaster?
- What is the current death toll, and what kind of damage has occurred?
Where was the epicenter?
The earthquake struck near Mandalay, located in central Myanmar, at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Not long after, at around 12 minutes later, an aftershock measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale shook the same region, further complicating rescue efforts and heightening the sense of urgency among local authorities.
