A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, causing widespread destruction and a rising death toll. By Sunday, Myanmar reported 1,644 fatalities, with 3,408 people injured and 139 missing. In Thailand, the greater Bangkok area experienced significant damage, with 18 people dead, 33 injured, and 78 missing.
The earthquake primarily affected regions along the Sagaing Fault in Myanmar, which lies between the India and Sunda tectonic plates. The hardest-hit areas include Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city with 1.5 million residents, located near the quake’s epicenter.
Critical infrastructure suffered extensive damage, including the historic Ava Bridge connecting Sagaing and Mandalay, Mandalay University, and various cultural heritage sites. Many airports in affected cities, such as Mandalay and Naypyidaw, remain closed, hampering rescue efforts.
Damage has also been reported in Sagaing, Naypyidaw, Magway, Bago, and Shan State regions. Ongoing telecommunications outages are complicating emergency response efforts.
In response, the Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal seeking 100 million Swiss francs ($113.3 million) to support 100,000 people across 20,000 households over the next two years.
