London – A 7.7 magnitude earthquake has hit central Myanmar and has also been felt in neighbouring Thailand.
There were also strong tremors felt in south-west China.
The epicentre was 16km (10 miles) north-west of the city of Sagaing, at a depth of 10 km, according to the US Geological Survey.
The US Geological Survey also issued a red alert for deaths and damage, as they estimate that thousands of deaths seem probable.
Just 12 minutes after the first earthquake hit Myanmar, another one struck, according to the US Geological Survey.
The second was a magnitude of 6.4, it records.
Roads have cracked, and multiple buildings collapsed.
According to Myanmar researcher Joe Freeman, “the scale of the disaster in Myanmar may not become clear for some time, given that many media outlets are banned and internet access restricted.”
Further to that, there has been a conflict taking place in Myanmar since the military coup in 2021.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other humanitarian organisations are urging the junta to allow humanitarian access and not worsen the situation of the people.
However, in a rare request, the junta has called for assistance and declared a state of emergency.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that the 27-nation bloc stood ready to help after a strong, deadly earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand.
As a result of the funding freeze of USAID, a world-renowned US programme for international disaster and crisis assistance can no longer be deployed.
In Thailand, there is dramatic footage on social media showing swaying buildings and water splashing out of a rooftop pool in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
A state of emergency has been declared in Bangkok, Thailand’s prime minister said.
Thai rescuers are currently attempting to save 81 people trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building in Bangkok.
