Tragedy struck early Monday morning as a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake ripped through large swaths of Myanmar, southern China, and northern Thailand, leaving behind a trail of devastation, destruction, and heartbreak.
The earthquake hit at 3:42 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located in the remote mountainous region along the Myanmar–Yunnan (China) border, at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The tremors were felt across major cities including Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Thailand, triggering mass evacuations as panicked residents rushed into the streets.
đź’Ą Catastrophic Impact
Myanmar has borne the brunt of the disaster. Authorities have declared a state of emergency, reporting at least 48 confirmed fatalities and over 300 injured, with dozens still missing. In Lashio, one of the worst-hit cities, buildings crumbled to the ground as terrified residents fled. Search and rescue teams are racing against time to pull survivors from the rubble.
“We heard a loud roar, and suddenly everything began shaking violently. The ground moved like ocean waves,” said Myo Thant, a local resident who narrowly escaped with his family as their home collapsed behind them.
🇨🇳 China Responds Swiftly
In Yunnan Province, Chinese officials confirmed 12 deaths and more than 100 injuries, along with widespread infrastructure damage—including collapsed bridges, hospitals, and schools. The government has deployed military personnel and emergency response teams, activated seismic alert systems, and evacuated thousands from high-risk zones.
đź’” As rescue operations continue and the scale of the disaster unfolds, the entire region faces an immense humanitarian crisis. Stay tuned for real-time updates and emergency aid information.
