A powerful magnitude-7.7 earthquake originating near Mandalay, Myanmar, triggered chaos in Bangkok on Friday, killing at least 10 people and leaving over 100 unaccounted for as search teams worked through the night. The quake caused a partially constructed high-rise building in the Thai capital to collapse, with rescue crews scrambling to locate survivors under rubble.
Local authorities confirmed the death toll continues to risk climbing as emergency teams deploy thermal imaging equipment and sniffer dogs. "Every minute counts," a Bangkok disaster management official stated during a late-night briefing, noting the challenges of coordinating operations in dense urban areas.
Seismic activity was felt across Myanmar, northern Thailand, and Laos, though Bangkok sustained the most severe structural damage. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in rapidly developing cities, with experts pointing to the risks of high-density construction in earthquake-prone regions.
Regional governments have initiated cross-border disaster response coordination, while travel advisories urge caution near affected zones. The economic impact remains uncertain, particularly for Thailand's tourism and manufacturing sectors.
