News Bangkok evacuated and declared an 'emergency zone' after massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake strikes Thailand and Myanmar

Eliana Silver

Guest Reporter
Hundreds of people in the Bangkok have been evacuated after a massive earthquake hit Myanmar.

Social media footage showed water spilling out of pools in the Thai capital.



According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicentre of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, at a shallow depth of 10km, was in Myanmar near the city of Mandalay.

The Geological Survey added that a 6.4 magnitude aftershock was felt in the city around 12 minutes later.


Evacuations


Footage has shown collapsed buildings and debris on the street.

There have been reports of people stuck under the rubble of a collapsed building in the Chatuchak are of Bangkok.

A resident of the city Chiang Mai said: “I heard it and I was sleeping in the house, I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building.”

Witnesses have said people including many hotel guests in bathrobes and swimsuits ran out into the streets.

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Collapsed building


According to Beijing's quake agency, tremors were also reportedly felt in China’s southwest Yunnan province measuring 7.9 in magnitude.

According to a post on X, the Thai Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said she interrupted an official visit to Phuket to hold an “urgent meeting” after the quake.

The PM declared Bangkok an "emergency zone" and advised people to evacuate tall buildings because of possible aftershocks.

An officer from the Myanmar Fire Services Department said: "We have started the search and going around Yangon to check for casualties and damage. So far, we have no information yet."

The United States Geological Survey has said that buildings in Myanmar and Thailand are especially vulnerable to the effects of the quakes.


People affected by quakes


They said: "Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist.”

"The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and unreinforced brick masonry construction."

Earthquakes are common in Myanmar.

In 2016, a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the ancient capital of Bagan in central Myanmar, claiming the lives of three people and causing the collapse of spires and the crumbling of temple walls at the popular tourist site.

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