Greater than 140 reported killed in Myanmar earthquake, as Thailand works to free dozens trapped below Bangkok skyscraper – because it occurred | Myanmar

It’s evening now in Mandalay, Myanmar, and Bangkok, Thailand. Here’s what we all know up to now after an earthquake with a 7.7 magnitude hit central Myanmar on Friday.

• A robust 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on Friday, destroying buildings, a bridge and a dam. The quake, with an epicenter close to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest metropolis, struck at noon and was adopted by a robust 6.4 magnitude aftershock. Tremors have been additionally felt in China’s south-west Yunnan province, in line with Beijing’s quake company.

• Not less than 144 folks in Myanmar have been killed and 732 injured by a significant earthquake that struck the nation on Friday, in line with Myanmar’s junta chief. Min Aung Hlaing mentioned he anticipated the toll to rise and he was inviting “any nation, any organisation” to assist with reduction efforts – a uncommon request from the remoted junta.

• Thai authorities declared a state of emergency in Bangkok, prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra mentioned on Friday, whereas Bangkok metropolis corridor mentioned on Friday that Thailand’s capital had been declared a catastrophe space.

• Eight individuals are confirmed to have been killed in Bangkok, the town’s governor Chadchart Sittipunt has mentioned. This contains seven folks killed on the building website of the collapsed high-rise, the place rescuers are nonetheless scrambling to avoid wasting dozens of building staff feared trapped below the rubble. Police are utilizing drones to detect physique warmth within the seek for survivors, and rescue canines have additionally been deployed, Thai media reported. Thailand’s defence minister mentioned 90 folks have been lacking on the website of the high-rise constructing below building that collapsed.

• The earthquake was additionally felt in China Yunnan and Sichuan provinces and brought about harm and accidents within the metropolis of Ruili on the border with Myanmar, in line with Chinese language media studies. The shaking in Ruili was so sturdy that folks couldn’t stand.

• Bangkok’s governor Chadchart Sittipunt ordered the instant institution of an earthquake response command centre, and instructed all districts and hospitals to evaluate damages. Law enforcement officials have additionally been deployed to evacuate folks from unsafe buildings and handle site visitors. Prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra known as an emergency assembly to evaluate the impression of the quake.

• Witnesses described evacuating swaying buildings with plaster raining down on them, whereas photographs confirmed broken roads with massive cracks. Video footage of a Bangkok high-rise confirmed water from a pool sloshing over the aspect of it.

• Amnesty Worldwide and Human Rights Watch have known as for Myanmar’s army junta to permit humanitarian entry. Earlier within the day, the junta made a uncommon name for worldwide assist because it declared a state of emergency throughout six areas.

• The Purple Cross shared its considerations for the state of enormous scale dams. “Public infrastructure has been broken together with roads, bridges and public buildings. We presently have considerations for giant scale dams that individuals are watching to see the situations of them”, Marie Manrique, programme coordinator for the Worldwide Federation of the Purple Cross mentioned to reporters in Geneva, through video hyperlink from Yangon.

• The World Well being Group (WHO) is readying medical provides and mentioned it had triggered its emergency administration system in response to Friday’s “large” earthquake in Myanmar. It added that it was mobilising its logistics hub in Dubai to organize trauma harm provides.

• Zin Mar Aung, the highest diplomat of the Myanmar’s parallel nationwide unity authorities, mentioned troops from the anti-junta militias, often called the folks’s defence forces, could be offering humanitarian assist. “It’s very critical, we’d like humanitarian and technical help from the worldwide group,” Zin Mar Aung mentioned in a cellphone interview, including communications was a significant problem, together with web restrictions imposed by the junta in a hard-hit space.

• EU chief Ursula von der Leyen mentioned on Friday the 27-country bloc stood prepared to assist after a robust, lethal earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand. France echoed the supply of assist, including that its diplomatic premises within the Thai capital had been evacuated.

• UK overseas secretary David Lammy suggested British nationals in Myanmar and in Thailand to observe authorities recommendation. Earlier right this moment, the UK Overseas Workplace warned “there could also be a number of sturdy after-shocks” after the quake.

• Pope Francis supplied his prayers for the victims of the highly effective earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand, the Vatican press workplace mentioned. In a telegram revealed by the Vatican, Francis mentioned he was “deeply saddened by the lack of life and widespread devastation” attributable to the earthquake.

• The US Company for Worldwide Improvement introduced it would ship some groups to Thailand to assist with restoration efforts. Donald Trump mentioned he had spoken to officers in Myanmar and could be offering “assist”.

That’s it from me, Donna Ferguson. Thanks for following alongside.