A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread devastation. The tremors didn’t stop at Myanmar’s borders—they rippled across the region, rattling buildings in China, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and India. In Bangkok, the Thai capital, skyscrapers shook violently, metro services halted, and terrified residents poured into the streets.
As of now, over 1,000 people have been confirmed dead in Myanmar, with thousands injured. In Thailand, the death toll stands at 20, with dozens still trapped under collapsed buildings.
Chaos in Bangkok: ‘I Just Wanted to Get Out’
For those caught in the quake, the experience was terrifying. French tourist Augustin Gus, 23, was shopping for a T-shirt when the ground beneath him suddenly shifted.
“Just when I left the elevator, the earth started moving. I thought it was me... it was not me,” he said. “Everyone was screaming and running, so I started screaming as well.”
Others described scenes of confusion and desperation. Cristina Mangion, 31, from Malta, was in her hotel room when the tremors hit.
“I thought I was feeling dizzy from the heat,” she recalled. Hotel staff rushed door-to-door checking on guests, some of whom were still in shock.
A business traveller from the Solomon Islands, who requested anonymity, described the scramble to evacuate from a high-rise.
“There were no procedures in place. Everyone was confused—I just wanted to get out,” he said.
Buildings Crumble, Lives Lost
One of the most dramatic scenes played out near Bangkok’s Chatuchak market, where a multi-storey construction site collapsed into a cloud of dust. Dozens of workers were buried under the rubble.
John Selvam, a Bangkok resident, was in a shopping mall when he heard the news.
“My car started moving on its own due to the earthquake… I immediately went out of the mall and called my home,” he told ANI.
Junpen Kaewnoi is still searching for her mother and sister, both painters who were working at the construction site when the quake struck.
“I kept calling, but it was unsuccessful. All I kept hearing was the continuous toot… toot… of a busy signal,” she told CNN. “I feel like there’s a lump in my stomach, and I have no appetite to eat.”
Myanmar Reels from Devastation
Across the border in Myanmar, the quake’s destruction was immense. In Taungnoo, a mosque collapsed, killing three people as they prayed.
“We were saying prayers when the shaking started… Three died on the spot,” an eyewitness told Reuters.
In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, residents watched in horror as buildings crumbled before their eyes.
“I witnessed a five-storey building collapse in front of me,” one resident said. “Everyone in my town is out on the road, and no one dares to go back inside buildings.”
‘We Were Completely Unprepared’
In Bangkok, Amy Clayton, a 26-year-old English teacher, was at school when the tremors hit.
“I felt dizzy, like I was going to pass out,” she said. At first, she thought it was just the heat, but then a colleague turned to her and asked, ‘Can you feel that?’
Moments later, fire alarms blared, and a panicked evacuation followed.
“Children were crying, some had panic attacks,” she said. “We were completely unprepared.”
Why Was This Quake So Devastating?
Dr OP Mishra, Director of the National Centre for Seismology, explained that the earthquake occurred along the Sagaing Fault in Myanmar—a 1,200 km-long fault known for producing major quakes.
“The main quake struck at 11:50 am, followed by three powerful aftershocks—one at 7.0 magnitude, and others at 5.0 and 4.9,” he said.
He also pointed out why Bangkok was particularly affected.
“Bangkok sits on an alluvial belt where the chances of liquefaction are high. This weakened the soil, causing buildings to collapse.”
Rescue operations are ongoing in both Myanmar and Thailand, with emergency teams racing against time to locate survivors. Authorities warn that aftershocks are likely, adding to the risk.
The Embassy of India in Bangkok has issued an emergency helpline (+66 618819218) for Indian nationals, confirming that all embassy staff are safe.
For many, the ordeal is far from over. But in the midst of destruction, some tourists, like Mangion, remain determined to continue their travels.
“I feel bad for what happened, but the best thing is to support local businesses,” she said.
For others, the quake serves as a grim reminder of life’s unpredictability. Frenchman Gilles Franke, 59, a frequent visitor hoping to retire in Thailand, summed it up simply:
“When it’s your time, it’s your time. You can die crossing the road—you can die anytime.”