A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the border region between Myanmar and China early this morning, causing widespread devastation and prompting emergency responses across multiple countries.
The quake hit at 3:42 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located in a mountainous area near the Myanmar-Yunnan border, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It occurred at a shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometers, intensifying the impact.
Tremors were felt as far away as northern Thailand, with residents in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai reporting strong shaking. Authorities in those areas initiated mass evacuations as a precaution.
Myanmar has been the hardest hit so far. Officials have confirmed at least 48 deaths and more than 300 injuries, with dozens still missing. A state of emergency has been declared in several regions.
In the city of Lashio, multiple buildings have collapsed entirely. Search and rescue teams are racing to pull survivors from the debris.
“We heard a loud noise, and suddenly everything started shaking. The walls cracked, the ground moved like waves,” said Myo Thant, a local resident who escaped with his family just before their home crumbled.
Relief efforts are underway as authorities across the region assess the full scale of the disaster.
