🌍 ALERT IN ASIA DUE TO 7.7 EARTHQUAKE: DEAD AND TRAPPED IN MYANMAR, CHINA, AND THAILAND
Editorial Staff | International Alert
An intense emergency situation is unfolding in Asia after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck during the early hours of Monday, shaking vast regions of Myanmar, southern China, and northern Thailand, leaving an initial toll of dozens dead, hundreds injured, and many people trapped under rubble.
The earthquake occurred at 3:42 a.m. (local time), with its epicenter in a mountainous area on the border between Myanmar and China’s Yunnan province, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor was also strongly felt in the Thai cities of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, where mass evacuations were reported.
Myanmar, the hardest-hit country so far, has declared a state of emergency in several regions after reporting at least 48 deaths and more than 300 injuries, along with dozens of people missing. In the city of Lashio, buildings collapsed completely, and rescue teams are working against the clock to find survivors under the rubble.
“We heard a loud noise, and suddenly everything started shaking. The walls cracked, and the ground moved like waves,” said Myo Thant, a resident of the affected area who managed to escape with his family before their home collapsed.
In Thailand, although no fatalities have been reported so far, significant structural damage has occurred in ancient temples and historic buildings. Thai authorities have suspended classes in schools in Chiang Rai and have placed hospitals on alert due to the possibility of aftershocks.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a precautionary warning for nearby coastal areas, which was lifted hours later after no anomalies were detected in sea levels. However, experts do not rule out the possibility of significant aftershocks in the coming hours.
International organizations such as the UN and the International Red Cross have already begun coordinating humanitarian aid efforts to assist those affected. The global community has expressed solidarity with the impacted countries, and rescue teams, food, and medical supplies are expected to be sent.
Social media has begun filling with dramatic images showing cracked streets, collapsed buildings, injured people, and families desperately searching for loved ones among the debris. The hashtag #AsiaEarthquake has become a global trending topic.
As search and rescue operations continue, authorities are urging the population to remain calm, avoid spreading false information, and follow only official updates. A new official report is expected in the coming hours, as Asia wakes up amid chaos, fear, and hope of finding survivors.