Myanmar earthquake death toll soars; Thai rescuers search for dozens trapped in Bangkok collapse

Southeast Asia is reeling from a pair of devastating events, as a powerful earthquake in Myanmar leaves a trail of death and destruction, while rescuers in neighboring Thailand scramble to find survivors after a building collapse in Bangkok.

The toll from Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, the most powerful to strike the region in a century, continues to climb.

The country’s State Administration Council information team reported that the death toll has surpassed 800, with more than 2,000 people injured and 68 still missing.

In Bangkok, rescuers are engaged in a desperate search for survivors after a high-rise building under construction collapsed.

Authorities report that 10 people have been confirmed dead, 16 injured, and approximately 101 remain missing across three building sites in the city, including the 30-story high-rise.

At the site of the high-rise alone, more than 80 people are believed to be trapped, according to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

The Thai government has declared the earthquake a level 3 disaster, categorized as major, and is coordinating rescue and relief operations accordingly, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The Thai Meteorological Department reported 77 aftershocks as of 6 a.m. Bangkok time, although none were strongly felt in Thailand.

Bangkok city authorities have ordered safety audits of public and government buildings, with a group of civil engineers set to inspect the buildings and categorize damages based on severity.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has pledged government assistance and financial relief to those affected.

Following a meeting on Saturday, she stated that the situation is now “safe” and advised residents of tall buildings to seek guidance from their building management regarding infrastructure safety.

Three hospitals in Bangkok were inspected on Friday night, with Ratwithi Hospital instructed to cease operations due to earthquake-related damage.

Eleven temporary shelters have been opened in the Thai capital to accommodate those displaced by the disaster.

Some rail services operated by Bangkok Expressway and Metro will remain closed on Saturday to ensure safety, according to local broadcaster PPTV.

Thailand’s stock and futures exchanges halted trading on Friday due to evacuations triggered by the earthquake. It remains unclear whether trading will resume on Tuesday.

While Thailand is a major manufacturing hub, companies like Samsung Electronics Co. have reported no disruptions to their operations.

Siam Piwat, the owner and operator of several shopping malls in downtown Bangkok, has stated that its buildings are structurally sound and will resume operations on Saturday.

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