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 Devastating 7.7 Quake Shatters Myanmar and Thailand, Killing Over 150 as Buildings Crumble and Chaos Erupts

A massive earthquake struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction and tragedy in its wake. The 7.7-magnitude tremor, centered near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, demolished buildings, a dam, and a major bridge. At least 144 people were confirmed dead in Myanmar and eight more perished in Bangkok, where a towering high-rise under construction collapsed in a cloud of debris.

Shocking images from Naypyidaw and Mandalay show crumpled roads, pancaked buildings, and desperate rescue teams pulling victims from rubble. The already fragile nation, gripped by civil war and tightly controlled information, declared a state of emergency as the true scale of devastation remains unclear.

A powerful 6.4 aftershock soon followed, rattling already traumatized communities. In Bangkok, panic erupted near Chatuchak Market as a 33-story crane-topped tower disintegrated, sending sirens wailing across the capital. Gridlocked streets and shutdown transit systems amplified the chaos as terrified residents fled buildings, many experiencing an earthquake for the first time.

In total, over 730 people were injured, and 90 remain missing beneath the collapsed high-rise, as rescue crews race against time. The Myanmar military government has urgently appealed for blood donations in the hardest-hit zones. With damaged roads, buckled highways, and compromised infrastructure, aid and rescue efforts are being severely hampered.

Though the region is no stranger to seismic activity, the sheer power and reach of this quake mark it as one of the most catastrophic in recent memory.