An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 shook Southeast Asia on Friday, leaving a devastating toll of victims and damage in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma).
The epicenter of the earthquake was located near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, and was felt in several neighboring countries, including Thailand, India, and China.
Authorities and local media reported dramatic scenes, with bodies lined up among the rubble and thousands of people trapped under collapsed buildings.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a red alert, warning that the death toll could range from 1,000 to 10,000, given the magnitude of the disaster. According to initial reports, the earthquake caused extensive damage more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the epicenter.
In Thailand, a 30-story tower under construction in Bangkok collapsed, causing at least three deaths on site and leaving more than 90 people missing. Despite rescuers' efforts, the area is still too unstable for rescue teams to find those trapped.
The dramatic collapse of the skyscraper was captured on video by witnesses on social media, showing a crane at the top of the construction as it crumbled into a cloud of dust.
Thailand's Defense Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, reported that seven people had already been rescued, but many more remained missing.
The scene in Bangkok was chaotic, with people running through the streets in panic, some in swimwear and bathrobes, after seeing water fall from an elevated pool of a top-level hotel. Bangkok authorities declared the city a disaster zone, mobilizing emergency teams to assess the damage and assist those affected.
Meanwhile, in Myanmar, the damage was equally devastating. In the city of Taungoo, at least three people died when a mosque collapsed. At least two deaths and more than 20 injuries were also reported due to the collapse of a hotel in Aung Ban.
In Mandalay, the earthquake damaged historic buildings, including the old royal palace, and the collapse of a 90-year-old bridge in the Sagaing region. Some sections of the highway connecting Mandalay with the city of Yangon were also damaged.
