Thailand has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok following a powerful earthquake in neighboring Myanmar.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra designated the capital as an “emergency zone” after multiple buildings suffered severe damage. He urged residents to evacuate high-rise structures immediately.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention reported that the earthquake was felt across almost the entire country.
One of the most critical incidents involved a 30-storey skyscraper under construction in northern Bangkok, which collapsed during the tremor. Thai media reports indicate that at least 43 construction workers remain trapped inside.
According to the US Geological Survey, two significant earthquakes struck Myanmar, hundreds of miles away from Thailand. The first, a 7.7 magnitude quake, hit Sagaing at around 1:20 PM local time on March 28. Just 12 minutes later, a second 6.4 magnitude quake struck south of the initial epicenter.
In Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) inside the National Museum described the ceiling cracking and shaking as the building crumbled. Panicked staff fled outside, some visibly shaken and calling loved ones.
The tremors damaged roads and halted traffic, particularly near a major hospital that turned into a “mass casualty area” after the quake. Medical staff were forced to treat patients outside the 1,000-bed facility, using IV drips connected to gurneys on the street.
Myanmar has also declared a state of emergency due to the devastation. The State Administration Council reported that the earthquake struck approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Mandalay at a depth of 10 kilometers, followed by three aftershocks.
A Sky News eyewitness in Bangkok recounted feeling the tremors while at work around 1:30 PM. “Lights swayed, windows rattled, and people rushed to evacuate. There was no warning, even though this country still remembers the devastation of a tsunami two decades ago.”
Thai security forces have been deployed to maintain public safety, while the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is monitoring the situation for potential aftershocks.
Seismologists warn that aftershocks are likely in the coming hours. While typically less intense, statistical data suggests a possibility of another significant earthquake within the next 24 hours.
