Myanmar Declares State of Emergency Amid Major Earthquake Crisis

Following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake near Sagaing, Myanmar, authorities are grappling with extensive damage, rescue operations for missing persons, and the declaration of a state of emergency. Reports indicate severe impacts felt regionally, including the collapse of a construction site in Bangkok.

A significant earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 has impacted central Myanmar, as stated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake's epicenter was located 16 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of Sagaing at a depth of just 10 kilometers, causing strong tremors that reached as far as southwest China and Thailand.

In Thailand, officials reported that at least 81 construction workers are unaccounted for after a high-rise building collapsed hundreds of miles away in Bangkok, which has raised further concerns. Rescuers in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, reported immense destruction, estimating that casualties could be in the hundreds.

In Naypyidaw, Myanmar's capital, roads have been observed buckling in the aftermath of the quake, prompting the military government to announce a state of emergency across six regions affected by the disaster. The quake struck near Mandalay, which is home to around 1.5 million residents. A significant aftershock, measuring 6.4, followed 12 minutes later, with its epicenter 18 kilometers (11.1 miles) south of Sagaing.

Local resident Soe Lwin from Yangon expressed fears about aftershocks, recalling the intense feelings during the initial quake. Concurrently, Bui Thu, a BBC journalist living in Bangkok, described her immediate panic as she was cooking when the earthquake hit, noting the city's buildings are not designed for such seismic events, which could lead to extensive damages.

Myanmar, already enduring political instability since a military coup in 2021, faces additional challenges as information dissemination is often hindered by government controls over media and restricted internet access.