Myanmar was rocked by two powerful earthquakes on Friday, triggering strong tremors in neighboring Thailand and Vietnam. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 10 km near Mandalay at around 11:50 am. This was followed by another earthquake of magnitude 6.4 at 12:02 pm, with its epicenter located 18 km south of Sagaing.
The quakes sent shockwaves across the region, with residents in Bangkok, Thailand, and several parts of Vietnam reporting intense shaking. Videos circulating on social media captured buildings swaying as people rushed to safety.
Myanmar authorities have yet to release official reports on casualties or damage. Given the magnitude of the tremors, concerns remain over potential destruction in the affected regions, particularly in densely populated areas like Mandalay, home to approximately 1.2 million people.
Experts fear aftershocks could follow, urging residents to stay alert. Meanwhile, neighboring countries are closely monitoring the situation. This seismic activity underscores the vulnerability of Southeast Asia to major earthquakes, given its location along active tectonic fault lines.
Authorities and disaster management teams are expected to assess the full impact in the coming hours.
