New Delhi: A 1,000-bed hospital in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, is likely a "mass casualty area," according to a report by the AFP news agency on Friday afternoon. This comes after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Sagaing, located approximately 260 kilometers away. There is no confirmed death toll yet, either from the hospital incident or overall.
The hospital, which has not yet been named, is one of the largest in the city, AFP reported. Visuals from outside the building showed injured people being treated on the streets, with intravenous drips hanging from gurneys as loved ones comforted them.
Following the initial earthquake, tremors were felt as far as northern Thailand, where metro and rail services in Bangkok were temporarily suspended. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has declared a state of emergency in the capital.
In Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, 43 people have been trapped after a 30-floor under-construction building collapsed entirely. The building, intended for government offices, was reduced to rubble and twisted metal within seconds, as seen in footage shared on social media.
"When I arrived to inspect the site, I heard people calling for help, saying ‘help me,’" Worapat Sukthai, Deputy Police Chief of Bang Sue district, told AFP. He added, "We estimate that hundreds of people are injured, but we are still determining the number of casualties."
BREAKING: At least 43 people missing after a tower collapses in Bangkok – local media BNO News Tweet.
China’s Yunnan province also reported strong tremors, with the China Earthquake Networks Center recording a magnitude of 7.9. Mild tremors were felt in Kolkata, parts of Manipur, and in Dhaka and Chattogram in Bangladesh, PTI reported.
Terrifying videos on social media platform X showed buildings shaking in Bangkok and other cities, with people rushing into the streets in panic. "I heard it… I was sleeping in the house and then I ran as far as I could in my pajamas out of the building," said Duangjai, a resident of Chiang Mai, a popular tourist city in Thailand.
In Myanmar, an old bridge over the Irrawaddy River and several residential buildings collapsed. Images from Mandalay, located about 24 kilometers from Sagaing, suggest more people may be trapped. Additional videos showed extensive damage to Mandalay’s airport and a monastery near Taunggyi in Myanmar’s Shan State, which borders Thailand.
With input from agencies.
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
Stay updated with the latest news and updates by visiting our trusted sources: ZTC News and Z News Today. Explore in-depth articles, breaking stories, and more!