By: Isuru Parakrama
March 29, Colombo (LNW): A powerful earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, leaving at least 144 people dead and injuring more than 700, according to reports from state-run MRTV.
The tremor, which originated within Myanmar, sent shockwaves across Southeast Asia, causing widespread panic and structural damage in neighbouring countries.
The earthquake triggered a humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, with emergency response teams struggling to navigate through debris-laden streets to reach affected communities.
Hospitals, already stretched thin, have been overwhelmed by the influx of injured victims, whilst rescue efforts are being hampered by damaged infrastructure and power outages.
Entire neighbourhoods in some areas have been reduced to rubble, with officials warning that the death toll could rise further as search operations continue.
The tremors were also strongly felt in Thailand, where the disaster caused significant structural collapses, including the complete destruction of a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok.
Thai emergency services reported that at least five people had been killed in the collapse, whilst 117 remain missing as search-and-rescue teams race against time to locate survivors trapped beneath the wreckage.
Authorities across the region have urged residents to remain vigilant, as aftershocks continue to rattle affected areas. Governments in both Myanmar and Thailand have mobilised emergency response teams, whilst neighbouring countries have offered assistance in relief efforts.
Experts have pointed out that the region sits along an active seismic zone, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes of this magnitude.
Whilst Myanmar has experienced devastating quakes in the past, the scale of destruction in this incident underscores the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and stronger building regulations to mitigate future catastrophes.
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