NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar, March 28, (V7N) – A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The tremor, followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock, resulted in nearly 150 deaths and left hundreds injured. Many remain trapped under collapsed buildings, with officials fearing the toll will continue to rise.

The epicenter of the quake was northwest of Sagaing, flattening homes, bridges, and roads across Myanmar. The impact was so severe that a 30-storey skyscraper under construction in Bangkok, Thailand, crumbled. With Myanmar already struggling due to ongoing civil conflict, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing made an unusual appeal for international aid, confirming 144 deaths and 732 injuries while warning that the numbers could increase. Thailand has reported at least three fatalities.

Declaring a state of emergency in the worst-affected regions, Myanmar authorities called for urgent relief efforts. Hospitals were overwhelmed, with makeshift triage areas set up outside medical facilities. In Naypyidaw, rescue workers desperately attempted to free victims trapped under rubble.

Across the border in Thailand, the collapse of the Bangkok skyscraper left dozens missing, with rescuers working overnight to locate survivors. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited the site, announcing safety inspections for all buildings in the capital. In response to the disaster, India, France, the European Union, and the World Health Organization have pledged assistance, while Pope Francis expressed his condolences for the lives lost.

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