BANGKOK: A 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday.
The earthquake, which was 10 kilometers deep, struck at 12:50 p.m. local time or 1:20 p.m. in Thailand, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, 17 kilometers north of Myanmar’s second largest city. The Thai Meteorological Department said the risk of a tsunami was low because the quake occurred on land. The USGS reported a 6.4-magnitude aftershock 12 minutes after the initial tremor.
Myanmar’s military regime said “some people have died and many others have been injured” and taken to hospitals, without giving details. It issued an urgent appeal for blood donations at hospitals in the affected areas, notably Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region and the capital Naypyitaw.
The Natural Disaster Management Committee declared a state of emergency in Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Shan North-east and Naypyitaw and Bago. It advised “the public to remain in safe areas as aftershocks are expected to continue for another six hours according to experts from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.”
Local media showed General Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of the regime, inspecting areas affected by the earthquake in Naypyitaw.
