A violent earthquake measuring 7,7 on the Richter scale shook Myanmar on Friday, March 28, near the city of Sagaing, just 10 kilometers underground. The death toll remains unknown, but the damage is already considerable. In the capital, Naypyidaw, roads cracked and damaged buildings dropped debris into the streets, causing immediate chaos.
Panic in Bangkok, building collapses in Chiang Mai
The shockwave reached beyond Myanmar's borders, spreading panic as far away as Thailand. In Bangkok, the capital, offices and businesses were hastily evacuated, and part of the metro network was suspended. Further north, in Chiang Mai, a tourist destination famous for its temples, a 30-story building under construction collapsed under the intensity of the tremors. "I heard the noise while I was sleeping, so I fled in my pajamas as quickly as possible," said a shocked resident. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra immediately called an emergency meeting to organize the national response to the crisis.
Aftershocks as far as China, Yunnan shaken
The tremors also reached China's Yunnan province, where local authorities recorded an even stronger magnitude of 7,9. This border region also experienced violent movements, highlighting the region's seismic vulnerability. This earthquake revived memories of the many tremors that struck Myanmar during the XNUMXth century. The particularly active Sagaing Fault remains a constant threat to the region, already severely affected by regular natural disasters.
