A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, on Friday has sent shockwaves over 1,000 kilometres, causing tremors in Thailand and the collapse of a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok. The disaster has claimed over 1,700 lives in Myanmar, causing extensive destruction, particularly in the Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, and Bago regions. The quake also affected Shan State, disrupting telecommunications and hindering the flow of information from remote areas.
Tremors Reach Bangkok, Triggering Panic and Building Collapse
Despite being nearly 1,300 kilometres from the epicentre, Bangkok experienced strong tremors, prompting mass evacuations and temporary suspension of public transport. While most of the city’s buildings withstood the shaking, an under-construction skyscraper in Chatuchak district collapsed, claiming 18 lives, including 11 construction workers. Rescue teams are still working to locate dozens of people trapped under the rubble, with at least 33 injured.
Why Was the Earthquake Felt So Far?
Experts have attributed the quake’s long reach to its shallow depth of just 10 km, which amplified the shaking intensity. The rupture of a 200-kilometre section of a major fault line released immense energy, equivalent to more than the Hiroshima atomic bomb, according to the US Geological Survey.
Rebecca Bell, a tectonics expert at Imperial College London, explained that the straight nature of the fault allowed energy to travel southward toward Thailand, significantly extending the quake’s impact.
Additionally, Bangkok’s soft soil amplified the seismic waves, slowing them down and intensifying the ground shaking.
Why Did Only One High-Rise Collapse in Bangkok?
Despite dramatic footage showing high-rise buildings swaying and rooftop pools spilling water, only the unfinished headquarters of the auditor-general’s office in Chatuchak district collapsed.
Experts say this may be due to Thailand’s weaker earthquake safety standards before 2009. Christian Málaga-Chuquitaype, a senior lecturer in earthquake engineering at Imperial College London, noted that many older buildings in Bangkok lack proper reinforcement.
Emily So, a professor of architectural engineering at the University of Cambridge, suggested that Bangkok’s older buildings could be retrofitted for better earthquake resistance, similar to measures taken in California, western Canada, and New Zealand.
Rescue Operations Continue
Rescue teams in Bangkok and Myanmar continue their efforts, using drones and sniffer dogs to locate survivors. In Bangkok, at least 76 people remain trapped under the collapsed high-rise.
Meanwhile, in Myanmar, where over 3,400 people have been injured, humanitarian aid and rescue missions are struggling due to major telecommunication disruptions and ongoing conflicts.
The full extent of the devastation is yet to be determined, but with aftershocks continuing, experts warn that the region could see further destruction.
Sources By Agencies
